NEWSLETTER
Credit: Courtesy of Sagamore Resort
Get ready for some eggcellent springtime fun with colorful events, festive brunches, and more across New York State. With Easter taking place April 20 and Passover from April 12 through April 20 this year, and events taking place the week before the both holidays, there’s tons of exciting opportunities to celebrate. Here’s where you can find holiday activities and events in the Empire State.
Originally published 04/04/2022
Attend The Annual Easter Parade (New York City)
CREDIT: NYC & COMPANY
Fun, color, and creativity shine at the annual Easter Parade & Bonnet Festival in New York City. One of the city’s favorite springtime highlights, the parade is open to anyone and everyone who dons a bonnet–no registration required! Starting at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 10 am on Easter Sunday, the parade moves along Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Street. Stake your spot along the sidewalk to see the whimsical and whacky bonnet designs, or better yet, fashion your own creation and join the march!
Hop Aboard the Easter Bunny Express (Various Regions)
Take a festive sightseeing train ride this Easter at one of three locations across New York State. In Central New York, Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley Railroad will host a two-hour round trip train ride with the Easter Bunny on Saturdays and Sundays, April 12, 13, and 19. The train journey includes complimentary snacks and entertainment from the Easter Bunny, stopping off for an Easter Egg Hunt. Adirondack Railroad is also hosting an Easter Bunny Express, April 19 and 20, from Holland Patent Station at the base of the Adirondack Mountains, stopping off at the historic Remsen Depot for an Easter egg hunt and the chance to take snaps with the Easter Bunny.
In the Hudson Valley, on April 12, 13, and 19, the Catskill Mountain Railroad (pictured) is also promising a holiday adventure on their one-hour train ride from Kingston, complete with an Easter egg hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny on board their festively-decorated vintage trains.
Discover Your Perfect “Peeps Pairing” at Liberty Vineyards & Winery (Chautauqua-Allegheny
Credit: Courtesy of Liberty Vineyards & Winery
Tested and tasted by the wine experts themselves, Liberty Vineyards & Winery are here to guide you through the ultimate sweet treat pairing with your vino of choice. The annual event pairs a variety of award-winning wines with a variety of Easter candies (a favorite every year is the Purple Haze wine paired with a Peanut Butter Egg, which tastes just like a gourmet PB & J). Also included is a standard wine tasting. Peeps Pairing is held on Saturday, April 12 (10 am–6 pm), Sunday, April 13 (11 am–5 pm), and Saturday, April 19 (10 am–6 pm).
Follow the Bunny Treat Trail at the Buffalo Zoo (Greater Niagara)
Head to Buffalo Zoo for a wild Easter celebration! From April 12-13, tickets to the fun-filled family event include a special photo op with the Easter Bunny, a chance to collect goodies along the bunny trail, visit indoor exhibits, get up-close with animal ambassadors, and more from 8:30am-11am.
Pick Your Easter Brunch Along the Water (Thousand Islands-Seaway)
Who doesn’t love brunch with a view? Enjoy two Easter brunches by the water in the Thousand Islands, including a traditional breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, April 13 at 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel (pictured) with coloring and craft activities for kids (reservations only). The hotel also hosts an Easter Grand Buffet (reservations only) on April 20, where seasonal breakfast (11am-1pm) and dinner (11am-6pm) are served.
Easter Brunch and Spa Day at Greek Peak Mountain Resort (Finger Lakes)
Greek Peak Mountain Resort is hosting an Easter Brunch Buffet on April 20 at its upscale venue, "The Lookout at Hope Lake", an idyllic spot to sip mimosas and dine among scenic views of Hope Lake and mountain ranges. Turn your brunch outing into a day of pampering with a trip to Waterfalls Spa at nearby Hope Lake Lodge (pictured), a luxurious European-style day spa with rejuvenating massage, and facial and salon services. Reservations are required.
Explore a Jewish Community Center (New York City)
On the Upper West Side, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is a community center for Jewish life offering a wide variety of programs, arts and film exhibitions, children's activities, and more for adults and children. Sign up for one of the Passover cooking workshops, where you’ll be prepping various dishes inspired by the holiday alongside Chef Mariane Ruso, or try a ceramics workshop where you’ll make your own ceramic Seder plate. See one of the film screenings or enjoy a meaningful pre-Passover Seder meal for the whole family.
Enjoy an Easter Weekend Retreat at The Sagamore Resort (Adirondacks)
Credit: Courtesy of the Sagamore Resort
Treat yourself to a relaxing holiday weekend at a premier luxury resort by the lake. From April 18-20, The Sagamore Resort is celebrating the spring holiday with an array of festive Easter activities and events, starting with a champagne welcome in the lobby, followed by a movie night, s'mores by the bonfire, an Easter egg hunt on the front lawn overlooking the glittering Lake George waters, and more. Indulge your taste buds with the resort's Easter brunch at their signature Italian restaurant La Bella Vita, and experience a culinary demo and wine tasting.
Celebrate Passover at a Kosher-Friendly Hotel (Catskills)
Credit: @melour_resort on Instagram
Breathe in the fresh mountain air and explore scenic vistas in the Catskills this Passover with a weekend vacation to a kosher-friendly resort. Since the 1920s, the Catskills has been the go-to summer destination for Jewish families and became known as the "Borscht Belt" or "Jewish Alps", due to the hundreds of kosher-friendly resorts throughout the region. Just one mile from Windham Mountain is Hotel Vienna, a European-style hotel with private balconies to each room, an indoor swimming pool, and centrally located to Woodstock, Hudson, and Cooperstown. For a signature retreat designed by wellness experts, head to Honor's Haven Retreat & Conference, a four-season resort in the Shawangunk Mountain Range with a host of inclusive outdoor and wellness experiences. For a modern high-end vacation experience close to Hunter Mountain, try Melour Resort (pictured) in the village of Tannersville, with all-inclusive kosher dining and a variety of family-friendly activities and amenities.
Attend the Easter Celebration at Liberty Ridge Farm (Capital-Saratoga)
Credit: @libertyridgefarmweddings on Instagram
Grab your rubber boots and head to Liberty Ridge Farm for their 12th Annual Easter Eggs-perience on Saturday, April 19 from 8:30 am to 3 pm. Centrally located between Albany and Saratoga Springs, Liberty Ridge Farm is tucked away in the Capital region's picturesque countryside, surrounded by rolling hills. Say hello and snap photos with the Easter Bunny, participate in the annual Easter egg hunt, meet baby farm animals, and shop for Easter gifts or baked goods at the Market Barn & Bakery.
Explore Art Sculpture Gardens (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @wunderlust on Instagram
Surround yourself with blossoming trees and springtime flowers in bloom on a tour through art sculpture parks in the Hudson Valley. Visit Art Omi in Ghent, and admire the communal and performative dimensions of a barn raising at “Staging Area: A Barn Raising in Two Parts (Part One)” featured in the Newmark Gallery. Explore art in nature at Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, one of the largest outdoor sculpture parks in the United States, and peruse its permanent outdoor "gallery" from large-scale structures to site-specific earthworks.
Enter an Easter Road Race (Long Island & New York City)
On your marks, set, grab your bonnets, and race through Long Island and New York City on an Easter road race. Find yourself some bunny to walk or run with at the 6th annual Easter Bunny 5K Trail event in Bethpage on Long Island, through the scenic trails of Bethpage State Park on April 13 (race begins at 9:30 am, kiddie run at 9am). Also on Long Island, the Easter Bunny 5K race takes place at 9 am (kids fun run starts at 8:30am) on April 20 through Eisenhower Park. In Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, get ready for a hopping good race at The Great Easter Basket 5K & Half Marathon on April 20 (race begins at 9:30 am, kiddie run at 9am).
Learn About Jewish History at Eldridge Street Synagogue (New York City)
Credit: Peter Aaron
One of the first synagogues erected in the United States, Eldridge Street Synagogue is an architectural marvel bordering Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Built in the 19th century by immigrants from Eastern Europe, the synagogue is now a National Historic Landmark. Tour the Museum at Eldridge Street Synagogue and learn about the history of its beginnings in the Lower East Side to its rebirth as a 21st-century museum. The current exhibition on display until May 11, 2025 presents “Lower East Side, 1975: Portrait of a Changing Jewish Neighborhood,” featuring the evocative photographs from Richard Marc Sakols.
Meet a Botanical Bunny in Buffalo (Greater Niagara)
Make your way to the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens for blooming flowers and a special visit from the Botanical Bunny on April 19 and 20 from 10am-2pm. All visitors with an e-ticket can meet this fuzzy friend and stroll through the vibrant Spring Flower Exhibit.
Indulge in Easter Brunch Under the Sea (Long Island)
Photo Courtesy of Long Island Aquarium
Looking for a fun way to celebrate Easter with the whole family? The Long Island Aquarium is hosting an Easter Brunch on April 20 in their waterfront Sea Star Ballroom featuring three sessions with traditional brunch fare, a craft station for kids, and a visit from the Easter Bunny! Attendees can also participate in a Penguin Scavenger “Egg Hunt” and visit the aquarium before and/or after their brunch session.
Spend Easter Weekend in the Mountains (Hudson Valley)
Credit: @chandler__anderson on Instagram
Plan an extra special Easter weekend at the historic Mohonk Mountain House! There’s something for the whole family to enjoy with spring break activities like family archery and visits from baby farm animals, as well as Easter egg hunts, an Easter basket sale, and more. Your stay also includes classic Mohonk amenities like three meals daily, nightly entertainment, wellness classes and indoor pool, and other activities.
Hunt for Easter Eggs at the American Airpower Museum (Long Island)
Join the American Airpower Museum for their Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12th! Taking place from 11am until 3pm, young and old alike will enjoy a fun-filled day with egg hunts, Easter Tram Rides around Hangar 3, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and a bunny patch where little ones will be able to pick out their own plush bunny or chick.
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