-find an Easter Egg Hunt, Parades, and other egg-stravaganzas
When is Easter? The date for 2009 is fairly late: April 12 2009.
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.
Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Parades, & More
(Note that for some events below, 2009 updates are not yet available; generally, events repeat each year.)
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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 bonnets (and the costumed pets.)
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New York Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza in Central Park
Saturday before Easter, 11:00am to 3:00pm (check 2009 times)
Enter the Park at 72nd street for this free annual event in the Lower 40 Acres, from Bethesda fountain south. You'll find the city's largest egg hunt, an egg roll race (- spoon a wooden egg across the lawn), and family fun such as Build Your Own Basket, bunnies at the petting zoo, puppet show, face painting, and performances at the bandshell by Broadway.
- Lots more New York events- at New York City for Visitors, such as "Eggstreme Weekend at the Bronx Zoo".
- Washington, DC: White House Easter Egg Roll
Easter Monday
Rolling hard-boiled colored eggs down the lawns at the White House has to be an event with interesting history, and in fact this tradition goes back at least 125 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 to the White House lawn. The Egg Roll is now the largest public event at the White House, attracting some 40,000 visitors.
About.com's Guide for DC/ Capital Region has details about the White House Easter Monday Egg Roll, plus photos. 2009 date is April 13 2009, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Kids of all ages are welcome to attend, as long as at least one child is seven years old or under. The event is free; you'll need timed passes, though, distributed by the National Park Service.
- 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 such as African drumming, children's dance troupes, gospel music, and storytelling. This tradition at the Zoo dates back to 1889, when the Zoo first opened.
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Miami Metrozoo: The Great Metrozoo Egg Safari
April 11 and 12 2009
For children 12 and under, there'll be continuous Easter egg hunts, plus fun activities, Easter Bunny and more. Free with regular admission.
- Miami Seaquarium Easter Egg Hunt
An Easter Egg Hunt Celebration runs on 3 days (April 10, 11, and 12, 2009), with Easter Egg Hunts throughout the day, arrival ceremony daily for the Bunny, 5-acre Bunnypalooza with rides, giant slide, bouncie houses, music, face painting, games and more.
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Richmond, Virginia: Parade
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.
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Asheville, NC: Easter Egg Hunt at the Biltmore Estate
Easter Sunday; three hunts, 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. Also: 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
-Usually on Saturday afternoon
The traditional Egg Roll at the White House (noted above) was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes; and hundreds of miles from 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 3-10; admission is three colored hard-boiled colored eggs for use in contests and games. (Click on the web site's Calendar for updates for 2009.)
- Easter Bunny Express(es): quite a few tourist railroads run special train rides with Bunny --and treats-- on board. Check out some holiday trains in VT, NJ, OH, NM -- lots more.
See more: Easter Egg hunts at zoos in Utah and Oregon, on ski slopes in Colorado and Vermont, on a California railroad...
