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17 Eggs-cellent Easter Events
While Easter weekends of our childhood consisted of dyeing eggs, stuffing our face with Cadbury chocolate goodness (or marshmallow peeps, depending on your taste), and fighting our parents to dress up in our finest attire, these days for our kids, Easter means a whole lot more fun. From weekend festivals with the Easter bunny to puppet shows to indulging in alternative Easter basket faire, we gotta admit, our kids have it good. So in the spirit of experiencing Easter the way we could only imagine as kids, we assembled a list of eggs-cellent (sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves) Easter events in the Bay Area.
San Francisco
San Francisco food lovers will enjoy eating their way through the Union Street Spring Celebration and Easter Parade, where local restaurants serve food al fresco. Focusing on the city’s diversity—and fun for the little ones—the event also offers a climbing wall, jumpy houses, rides and games, costumed characters, a petting zoo, and even art cars. When: Sun. Mar. 31, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Free.
It wouldn’t be Easter if we didn’t have an egg hunt in the city’s biggest park. We’re talking about Golden Gate Park of course, and their Spring Eggstravaganza. This annual celebration promises to be bigger and better than last year, with fun carnival rides, games, egg hunts, live entertainment, and a BBQ competition between Rec and Park, SF Police and SF Fire departments! When: March 30, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. $8 per person. At the Golden Gate Park Carousel Area.
What better place to celebrate bunny love than the San Francisco Zoo? Big Bunny’s Spring Fling features bunny-petting, games, crafts, puppet shows, and photo opps with a costumed bunny. Bring your favorite plush bunny for one free child’s admission. When: March 30-31, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Free with zoo admission. Adults $15, Children 4-14 $9, Children 3 & under free.
Officially welcome the start of spring with the JamBand Family Festival. This popular concert series is back for another year of singing, dancing, and lots of fun. Be sure to bring your beach toys and sandals for a trip to the beach after the show. When: Sun. Mar. 31, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
North Bay
The Belvedere Community Center hosts the Easter Bunny Brunch with music, face painting, games, and a post-brunch egg hunt. Cameras welcome for pics with the Big Bunny. When: Sat. Mar. 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, $15 per person, ages 1 and under free.
Head to Fairfax’s Bolinas Park for their annual Easter Egg Hunt and kid-friendly entertainment. When: Sat. MAr. 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Free.
Come on down to the San Anselmo Children’s Egg Hunt at Memorial Park, followed by a small fair that includes a puppet show. When: Sat. Mar. 30, 11:00 am, ages 7 and under only. Free.
The village at Corte Madera throws an Easter Bunny Breakfast at The Cheesecake Factory and for a good cause. Guests are asked to donate $5/person to benefit Specials Olympics Marin. Children of all ages can enjoy listening to music by Lori & RJ, balloon animals, and more. When: Sat. Mar. 30, 9:00 am – 10:00 am. $7. Due to limited seating, RSVP by calling 415-924-8921.
Safari West in Santa Rosa hosts Hunt for the Hare, which includes brunch and a safari tour. When: Sun. Mar. 31. Brunch at 10:00 am and hunt at 11:30 am or brunch at 1:30 pm and hunt at 3:00 pm.
The Marinwood Community Center hosts Breakfast with Bunny and an egg hunt at Marinwood Park. Breakfast will follow the egg hunt. When: Sat. Mar. 30, Hunt at 10:00 am. Breakfast (purchased in advance): Adult $6, Child $2 (12 and under). Breakfast (day of event): Adult $7, Child $5 (12 and under). Hunt is free.
Toss on your Easter bonnet for Sausalito’s Easter Parade and Egg Hunt at Dunphy Park. The big bunny kicks off the parade, followed by an old-fashioned egg hunt, crafts, live entertainment, and an Easter bonnet contest. When: Sat. Mar. 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Free.
East Bay
Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza hosts a Spring Celebration including egg decorating, a hunt for the golden egg, story time and musical entertainment by Sandi and Stevie. When: Sat. March 31, 10:30 am – Noon.
Children’s Fairyland celebrates Bunny Weekend with Tap Dancing Easter Bunnies (Sat. Mar. 30th only, 11:30 am) and Critters By The Bay walk-around bunny characters. Jacquelyn Lynaugh as Mother Goose will entertain with her music and bunny tales.When: Sat. Mar. 30. Meet bunnies 1:00 pm – 1:20 pm, music and bunny tales 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, bunny-themed arts/crafts project 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Park admission is $8 per person ages 1 to 100.
South Bay
What’s better with eggs than pancakes? The San Bruno Chamber of Commerce hosts their 34th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast in San Bruno City Park. When: Sat. March 23, 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Breakfast: Adults $5, $3 for over 65 and under 12. 6 and under free with one paid adult. Hunt: 11:00 am. Free.
The Los Altos Recreation Department hosts their Egg Hunt at the Hillview Soccer Field. There are four hunts divided by age groups, and activities after. When: Sat. Mar. 30. Activities at 9:30 am – 11:30 am. Hunt at 10:00 am. Ages 1 – 10. Free.
In its 33rd year, the granddaddy of them all is San Mateo’s Eggstravaganza in Central Park. Pancakes, puppets, a parade, and entertainment by Magic Mike make up some of the day’s eggscellent activities. When: Sat. Mar. 30. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. Adults $8, Children $4.
Garden-lovers will delight in the spectacular setting for the Gamble Garden Children’s Easter Party in Palo Alto. Arts and crafts will be on hand, along with the egg hunt and The Mermaid puppet show. When: Sat. April 7, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Members: Adults $10, Children $20. Non-members: Adults $15, Children $25.
Have a favorite Easter egg hunt we haven’t included here? Let us (and the rest of our readers) know about it!
–Kristen McCluskey
photo credit: City of Los Altos Recreation Department, SRES Productions, vastateparksstaff, limaoscarjuliet
