Best Places to Celebrate Easter and Easter by the Numbers

Easter is typically a big consumer holiday that rakes in billions and gives Americans toothaches. In fact, 79% of Americans will celebrate the holiday this year, and consumers are expected to spend nearly $24 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. In the weeks leading up to the holiday, grocery stores will offer an abundance of seasonal foods like chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps, as well as extra eggs for people who want to dye them.

For Christians, however, Easter is less of a commercial event than a holy experience. It not only marks the end of Lent — a 40-day period of fasting, reflection, prayer and repentance followed directly by Easter Sunday — but it also celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and represents the “new covenant” between God and humanity. In observance of the holiday, many families will attend services.

Some Americans will feel the Easter spirit more than others, depending on where they live. To identify those areas, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities based on 11 metrics that speak to an ideal Easter celebration. Our metrics range from candy and chocolate stores per capita to the city’s Christian population. 

Make sure to also check out WalletHub’s Easter Facts & Stats – Church, Candy & Cash infographic for fun facts about the holiday.

“The best cities for Easter cater to the religious nature of the holiday by offering plenty of opportunities for Christians to attend services, and they also provide the resources for people to have a great time with their family regardless of religious affiliation. That means lots of places to get some sweet treats or dine out, as well as good weather conditions and nice open spaces for Easter egg hunts.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

In-Depth Look at the Best Places for Easter

Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, AL, is the best city for Easter, largely due to the fact that it’s a very Christian city. It has the most churches per capita, and over 52% of the population is Christian, the sixth-highest rate in the country. There are lots of choices when it comes to Good Friday and Easter Sunday services as a result.

On top of that, Birmingham has a lot of flower and gift shops per capita, allowing people to spruce up their celebrations.

Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh is the second-best city for celebrating Easter, in part because it has some of the most churches per capita and a very high share of the population identifying as Christian, so there’s a lot of people celebrating and plenty of places for them to worship.

The Steel City also has some of the most candy shops per capita and a high number of chocolate shops per capita, so it’s easy to sweeten the celebration. Pittsburgh also has some of the most flower and gift shops per capita, so decorating is easy, and it offers some of the most affordable restaurant meals for two.

For families looking for activities beyond the traditional celebrations, Pittsburgh provides many opportunities for enjoying quality time together. Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring Pittsburgh’s scenic parks and trails for hiking, bicycling, and picnicking opportunities. Also, several exceptional golf courses near Pittsburgh provide families with relaxing ways to unwind amidst stunning surroundings. From leisurely strolls along rivers to seasonal community events, Pittsburgh provides something special for everyone.

Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, NY, is the third-best city for celebrating Easter, boasting the second-highest number of churches per capita and the fifth-highest share of the population identifying as Christian, at over 55%. 

Buffalo residents also search Google for “Easter dinner” more than residents of many other cities, which shows that a lot of people are planning celebrations. The city has a lot of candy and chocolate shops per capita, too.

2025 Easter By The Numbers

Easter Expenses

$24B – Total Easter-related spending expected in 2025

$189 – Average Easter spending among people celebrating

$3.5B – Will be spent on clothing

$7.4B – Will be spent on food 

$3.3B – Will be spent on candy 

$3.8B – Will be spent on gifts

54% – of Easter celebrators say they’ll buy their holiday goods at grocery stores  

89% – Of Easter baskets will include chocolate or candy

Most Popular Easter Basket Items

Chocolate Eggs/Bunnies Jelly Beans	29% 25%
Peeps	14%

60% – Of parents plan on sending Easter baskets to their children after they’ve moved out

90M – Chocolate bunnies are sold in the U.S. each year for Easter

16B – Jellybeans consumed for Easter (enough to circle the globe 3 times!)

3 in 4 – parents plan to discuss eating candy in moderation with their kids

5 in 6 – parents monitor their children’s consumption

80% – Of parents steal candy from their kids’ stash

How Americans Eat Chocolate Easter Bunnies

77% – Ears first 

16% – Feet first

6% – Tail first

How We Like Our Chocolate Eggs

41% – Solid chocolate 

36% – Filled with caramel, peanut butter or chocolate ganache

23% – Hollow chocolate

15,873 lbs – Weight of the largest-ever chocolate Easter egg 

16,538 lbs – Weight of the average adult male African elephant

9,360 lbs – Weight of the largest-ever chocolate Easter bunny 

49K – Price of the world’s most expensive chocolate Easter bunny 

548K – Calories

52.4% – Of Americans say the Easter bunny came before the Easter egg 

25 – Flavors of Marshmallow Peeps are available this Easter

5.5M – Marshmallow Peeps are produced each day

1.5B+ – Marshmallow Peeps are consumed each Easter

Easter Traditions

59% – Of parents say they carried on an Easter tradition from their childhood

77% – Of Americans are excited to start new traditions with their families

58% – Of people plan to cook an Easter meal 

55% – Plan to visit family and friends on Easter Sunday 

Top Family Easter Activities

Easter Egg Hunt	83%
Eating Candy	69%
Dyeing Eggs	69%
Taking Family Photos	58%
Making Easter Dinner	57%

180M – Eggs are purchased for Easter

$5.90 – Average price of a dozen eggs (February 2025)

53% – Of Americans plan to decorate Easter eggs, despite high egg prices

16M+: Easter egg dyeing kits are sold each year

54% – Plan an Easter egg hunt for their kids 

1878 – Year of the inaugural White House Easter Egg Roll 

3: Times the White House Easter Egg Roll has been canceled (once due to rain and two times due to the pandemic)

40,000+ – People attend the White House Easter Egg Roll every year

80K+: Souvenir wooden eggs are made for each White House Easter Egg Roll

$750K – Spent by the White House Historical Association on the Easter Egg Roll each year

1,200: People volunteer to help organize the Easter Egg Roll each year

273 – Easter Hallmark Cards are available 

501,000 – Eggs hidden in the world’s largest Easter egg hunt – Winter Haven, FL (2007)

Christianity In America

1st – Easter is the most popular church day of the year

68% – Of Americans identify themselves as Christian

79% – Of Americans plan to celebrate Easter 

45% – Plan to attend church on Easter Sunday