If you’re traveling for Easter, you’re lucky because air traffic controllers are being paid and are able to more regularly work, making for more normal security lines at airports.
To determine which cities are the best places to celebrate Easter on April 5, WalletHub evaluated the 100 largest cities using 11 key metrics, from the city’s Christian population to candy and chocolate shops per capita.
“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,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said. “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.”
| Best cities for Easter | ||
| 1. Birmingham, Ala. | 11. Honolulu | |
| 2. Pittsburgh | 12. Cincinnati | |
| 3. New Orleans | 13. Cleveland | |
| 4. Las Vegas | 14. Sacramento* | |
| 5. Buffalo | 15. Miami | |
| 6. Orlando | 16. Long Beach | |
| 7. Atlanta | 17. Bakersfield, Calif. | |
| 8. El Paso | 18. Tampa | |
| 9. St. Louis, Mo. | 19. St. Paul, Minn. | |
| 10. Albuquerque | 20. Scottsdale, Ariz. | |
*Sacramento is No. 14 on the list. The photo above shows the red rabbit at the Sacramento Airport.
What makes the top three cities good places to celebrate Easter, according to WalletHub?
Birmingham
Birmingham, Ala., has the most churches per capita, and more than 52 percent of the population is Christian, the sixth-highest rate in the country. In addition, Birmingham has a high number of flower and gift shops per capita, so people can easily buy Easter items for their celebrations.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the second-best city for celebrating Easter, because it has a large number of churches per capita and a high number of the population identifying as Christian.
The Steel City also has a high number of candy, chocolate, flower, and gift shops per capita, which facilitates Easter celebrations. Pittsburgh also offers some of the most affordable restaurant meals for two.
New Orleans
New Orleans is the third-best city for celebrating Easter. It has a high number of churches per capita and the second-highest share of the population identifying as Christian, at more than 58 percent.
New Orleans also has the second highest number of brunch restaurants per capita and a high number of candy, flower, and gift shops per capita.
Final thoughts
Whether you’re traveling or celebrating at home, best wishes for your Easter celebration.
