-find an Easter Egg Hunt, Parades, other Egg-stravaganzas
When is Easter? The date for 2013 is March 31st.
In recent years, family events for Easter have multiplied like bunnies: Below is a selection of Easter Egg Hunts, Parades, and more.Check also at local zoos, aquariums, or children's museums for special events.
See also Easter Weekend Packages at Five Family Resorts
Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Parades, & More
(For some events, 2013 updates aren't available; generally, events repeat each year.)
- New York City: Easter Parade
Easter Sunday
No floats or marching bands in this famous parade: just "Put on your Easter Bonnet", as Bing Crosby warbled decades ago, and stroll along Fifth Avenue, admiring the outfits (and the costumed pets.)
- Lots more New York events- at New York City for Visitors; Brooklyn Heights Easter Egg Hunt, and more.
- Washington, DC: White House Easter Egg Roll
Easter Monday
Rolling hard-boiled colored eggs on the lawn at the White House has to be an event with interesting history, and in fact this tradition goes back over 130 years. Originally, families gathered on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, but the effects of so many picnicking, egg-rolling children caused Congress to forbid the grounds to be used as a playground. Fortunately, in 1878 President Rutherford was persuaded to re-stage the fun on the White House lawn. The Egg Roll is now the largest public event at the White House, attracting some 40,000 visitors. Kids actually race their eggs, pushing them along with a long-handled spoon.
About.com's Guide for DC/ Capital Region has details about the White House Easter Monday Egg Roll, plus photos. This year's date is April 1, 2013, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free, and tickets are distributed through an online lottery system.
- Washington DC: African-American Family Celebration, at the National Zoo
Easter Monday
This annual free family celebration typically includes Easter Egg Hunts, hands-on fun, and special performances. The tradition at the Zoo dates back to 1889, when the Zoo first opened. Past years have featured African storytelling, a capella gospel quintet, Caribbean reggae and steel drum bands, and more.
- Miami Metrozoo: The Great Metrozoo Egg Safari
Look for a repeat of this event for kids 12 and under, with continuous Easter egg hunts, plus fun activities, Easter Bunny appearance, and more. The event is free with regular admission.
- Miami Seaquarium Easter Egg Hunt
An Easter Egg Hunt Celebration on three days over Easter Weekend has Easter Egg Hunts throughout the event, music, and fun activities.
- Richmond, Virginia: Parade
On Easter Sunday, over 35,000 people enjoy this free street festival on historic Monument Avenue. Typical fun includes music (bands of many styles), roving performers, jugglers, clowns, face painters, great food, bonnet contest.
- Asheville, NC: Easter Egg Hunt at the Biltmore Estate
On Easter Sunday, three hunts take place at different times. On the Front Lawn of the Biltmore Estate -- America's largest home-- kids age two to nine scramble to find thousands of eggs. Other events typically include visits with the Easter Rabbit, magic shows, children's music and stories, activity area.
- New Orleans Easter Sunday Parades:
About.com's Guide for New Orleans has the details about several Parades in the historic French Quarter.
- Fremont, Ohio: Hayes Easter Egg Roll
The traditional Egg Roll at the White House (noted above) was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and hundreds of miles from Washington DC, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center stages an Easter Egg Roll of its own, at the historic Hayes Home. The event is for ages 3 to 10, and usually takes place on Easter Saturday. Admission is three colored hard-boiled colored eggs for use in contests and games. (Click on the web site's Calendar for updates for 2013.)
- Easter Bunny Express(es): quite a few tourist railroads run special train rides with Bunny --and treats-- on board. Check out holiday trains in VT, NJ, OH, NM -- lots more. In some cases, you may find an Easter Beagle instead of a bunny: several tourist railroads run a "Peanuts™ The Easter Beagle Express" train ride, featuring Snoopy, the canine from Peanuts cartoons.
Continue to more Easter egg hunts: at zoos in Utah and Oregon, on ski slopes in Colorado and Vermont, on a California railroad...
See also Easter Weekend Packages at Five Family Resorts
