NYC Easter Bonnet Parade: Route, Traffic Closures, Weather

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — One of New York City's most interesting parades of the year returns Sunday. The annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival brings some of the city's most well-dressed revelers to a small stretch of Midtown to ring in the spring with fancy head wear and bright colors.

The Easter Bonnet Festival wasn't always as lively as it is today. The tradition is more than 100 years old and has undergone some serious changes over time. The first Easter Parades in the 1870s were a high-brow affair attended by the city's elite. Well-dressed men and woman would don their finest hats and stroll down Fifth Avenue accompanied by horses and buggies.

These days the event is much more laid back and all about having fun in some (sometimes) goofy headgear.

Here's everything you need to know if you're thinking about attending this year's parade:

The parade route:

The Easter Parade is one of the most relaxed parades in the city. Unlike other event that take over large swaths of city streets, the Easter Parade extends just eight blocks on Fifth Avenue from 49th Street to 57th Street.

Most of the reveling occurs in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue and East 50th Street.

When does it start:

This year's Easter Parade starts at 10 a.m. and concludes around 4 p.m., according to the city tourism agency.

Street closures:

The Easter Parade draws much less security that other events such as March's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The only streets that should be shut off to traffic are those directly along the parade route. The NYPD will have the power to shut down Fifth Avenue between 47th Street and 57th Street at their discretion, according to the city Department of Transportation.

Directions:

Getting to the Easter Parade shouldn't be too difficult for both city dwellers and suburbanites. New York City residents should take the subway to the Rockefeller Center Station via the B, D, F or M line.

If you're coming into Penn Station or the Port Authority Bus Terminal from the suburbs, transfer to an E train and get off at the Fifth Avenue and East 53rd Street station.

If you're coming into Grand Central Station, you're probably better off just walking to the parade. If you really want to take the subway, catch the 6 train uptown and get off at 51st Street.

Weather forecast:

New York City's March weather has been cold, gray and wet. But this Easter Weekend is expected to break the trend. The National Weather Service is predicting a high temperature of 53 degrees and sunny skies for Sunday.

Check out the full weekend forecast here.

Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images News/Getty Images