Monument Ave’s Easter on Parade: an RVA Staple

This year, the Richmond tradition (staple, whatever) took place on Sunday April 20^th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Monument Avenue between the intersections of Davis and Allen Avenues.  This year the event was produced by Venture Richmond and sponsored by Bon Secours.

I call it a “staple” not only bc it reportedly lures more than 25,000 visitors each year (according to their Venture Richmond page) but bc there is a group of people who not only look forward to the event every year, they put a LOT of time and effort into preparing for the event.  And I don’t mean event organizers; I mean bonnet and pet bonnet competition contestants, and/or people who take their outfits or their pet’s outfits very seriously.  After all, it’s called Easter on Parade for a reason:  there is no actual parade, bc WE are the parade.  So bless their hearts – they are what make this event great.  And outside of that group, most people want to know when this event is so they can plan their Easter Sunday morning/afternoon around going before, after, or between seeing family.  Even if someone wasn’t aware or completely forgot that Easter on Parade was happening, it wouldn’t be weird or uncommon for him or her to find them self all of a sudden walking over to check out the spectacle on Monument Ave.

This year I went with two friends after a quick brunch at Metro Bar & Grill on Robinson St., so we were able to find parking far enough away from the madness (always prepare for that if you’re driving! Parking is difficult when everyone’s trying to get close to the same four block stretch) and then walk over with ease.  Like every year, they had the crowd favorites:  the bonnet competition at 4:00, the pet bonnet showcase at 3:00, the Ronald McDonald House set up outside their office with Mr. McDonald posing for photos (along with Grimace and the Hamburglar this year!), a petting zoo, bands, and lots of dressed up doggies.

Bands this year included the Upper East Side Band, Voodoo Dolls and the Meadow Street band.  Roving performers included Jonathon the Juggler (a Richmond staple in his own right), More or Less Morris Dancers, and Peggy the Clown and the Stilt Walking Clown.  And the crowd was not especially dense this year (at least when I was there) yet still did not disappoint with the colorful/festive/possibly just flat out weird outfits.  There was also arts, crafts, children’s activities, food and balloon artistry (what a fancy term lol).

If you live in Richmond and haven’t been to Easter on Parade yet, you’re just ridiculous.  Definitely check it out next year.  You can find more information at the Venture Richmond website (which may have a different link next year, just FYI).  What else is there to say? That can’t be said better with PICTURES J Hope you enjoy my photo montage of this year’s Easter on Parade.

(These guys were playing "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes as we walked by, and I just really like them for that :) Thanks, strangers on porch)

(Told ya there were some weird outfits)