Celebrate Easter with a variety of activities, events and do-it-yourself items to fill gift baskets and more. Patriciate in egg hunts and family photos; the latter is the perfect opportunity for every bunny — children and adults — to dress in their Sunday finest. Families can also have an eggs-cellent time atop a mountain during a sunrise nondenominational worship service. DIY fans will enjoy customizing baskets with candy, plush toys, deliciously fragrant slime and more. The following 11 ideas will help make this Easter special for families, friends and extended communities.
Multiple activities. The City of Norcross will host three festive events, beginning with an Easter egg hunt with opportunities to meet the Easter bunny and take photos. After, the Shop Hop Eggstravaganza will feature face painting, balloon art, stilt walking, crafts and another opportunity to meet the Easter bunny. Additionally, participating shops and restaurants will offer hidden eggs filled with candy and more. Lastly, the City will host an egg hunt for children with special needs and their families in an inclusive environment. The event will be wheelchair accessible and sensory-friendly with special consideration for the visually and hearing impaired. Easter egg hunt will begin at 10 a.m. April 8; Shop Hop Eggstravaganza, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; and the special needs egg hunt, 1 p.m. Rossie Brundage Park, 350 Autry St., Norcross. norcrossga.net.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Egg hunt. The Atlanta Foundation For Public Spaces will host an Easter Sunday egg hunt with more than 10,000 hidden Easter eggs for families to find and keep during the Sandy Springs Artsapalooza festival. A children’s play area will be available as well as music, interactive art stations, vendors and a special appearance by the Easter bunny. Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 8 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 9; the egg hunt takes place at 2 p.m. April 9. 6100 Lake Forest Drive NE, Sandy Springs. sandyspringsartsapalooza.com.
Easter vacation. Indulge in a festive Easter weekend getaway approximately 90 minutes outside of Atlanta at Barnsley Resort which will host a myriad of activities including breakfast with the Easter bunny, wooden Easter egg painting, a fireside concert, bingo and DJ party, family movie night, an Easter sunrise service, egg hunt and more. When booking with the Easter Fun Special, guests will receive a $50 activity credit to use toward horseback riding, golf, spa treatments and other on-site amenities during the weekend. Prices for accommodations vary. April 7-10. 597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville. 770-773-7480, barnsleyresort.com.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Hop to it. Celebrate the season with special events at the Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Kids will learn the fun Bunny Hop dance and have the opportunity to listen to a reading of “Good News, It’s Easter” by Glenys Nellist. The vividly illustrated book features whimsical rhyming stories which address the Easter story specifically for young kids. Both events are included with standard admission. April 8. Free for ages 11 months and younger; all others, $19.95. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
Brunch party. Start a new family tradition with brunch at Drawbar, located in the Bellyard Hotel, and enjoy live music, professional photos with the Easter bunny and a real-life bunny petting zoo. Brunch is a la carte; $5 per person fee at the door for photos and petting zoo. Noon-3 p.m. April 9. 1 Interlock Ave. NW, Atlanta. 404-806-8333, bellyardhotel.com.
Credit: Raftermen
Credit: Raftermen
Photos and egg hunt. Take professional photos with the Easter bunny at Avalon. Photos are first come, first served at the concierge so come ready as a family for this snapshot. Photo packages start at $15. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. April 6-7 and 9:30-6 p.m. April 8. Additionally, children can collect 10 eggs then redeem them for a bag of festive treats during the annual Hop-A-Long Easter egg hunt at Avalon’s Plaza. For kiddos up to 3 years old, the event will begin at 8:30 a.m.; ages 4 to 7, 9:30 a.m. April 8. 400 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. 770-765-2000, experienceavalon.com.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
Worship service. The annual non-denominational Easter sunrise service at Stone Mountain Park will be open to everyone at the top of the mountain as well as the base on the Memorial Lawn. The service is free however Skyride lift tickets are $15 one-way and $20 roundtrip; guests may utilize the walk-up trail to the top of the mountain for free. Vehicle entry to the park is $20 for a one-day permit except for church vans and busses, which are free. Sign language interpreters for hearing impaired guests will be present. Park gates open at 3 a.m.; lift at 4 a.m.; and service at 7 a.m. April 9. 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, stonemountainpark.com.
The spirit of giving. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will hold a series of major outreach events, including encouraging random acts of kindness and Easter services. Good Friday services will be held at 7:30 p.m. at New Birth, and will feature award-winning gospel artist Bishop William Murphy III with a special message from Pastor John F. Hannah. On Saturday, the Stonecrest church will host a pop-up outreach event with the King’s Table food pantry including the distribution of 1,000 free food boxes, 1,000 free tablets and household supplies. The food distribution is on a first-come, first-served basis and begins at 10 a.m. until noon at the former Sam’s Club parking lot, located at 2994 Turner Hill Road in Stonecrest. Also on Saturday, the congregation will be performing random acts of kindness across the Stonecrest area such as giving out gift cards, bottled water and other unexpected gifts at various businesses in the city. On Easter Sunday, the service will feature music by recording artist Jonathan Nelson. 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest. 770-696-9600, newbirth.org.
Credit: ASHA FULLER
Credit: ASHA FULLER
For DIY Easter baskets and treats
Sweet treats. Customize the candy portion of Easter baskets by adding a bag full of rainbow mini-milk chocolate eggs from Dylan’s Candy Bar. For individual gifts, opt for the Easter rabbit-themed tackle box which includes mini-milk chocolate bunnies, pressed sugar bunnies, gummy bunnies and much more. After the holiday, the box doubles as a storage container for small collectibles, trinkets or candy refills, too. Easter baskets are also available; one is filled with a plush bunny that may become a new favorite toy plus an assortment of candy while another features a big basket of candy, perfect for sharing with several kids and adults. Prices vary. dylanscandybar.com.
Slime time. Kids can get creative with Easter-themed slime kits from the Sloomoo Institute. Choose from eight different selections which includes a golden egg, a yellow butter fizz slime rolled in gold sugar paper that smells like a delectable egg crème or the fuzzy bunny that features a light pink snow fizz slime with a fuzzy bunny topper which smells like marshmallow fluff. Prices vary. 3637 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 770-370-8875, sloomooinstitute.com.
Local gifts. Head to Seed Factory for a variety of Easter-appropriate items including Jellycat soft plush bunnies with big floppy ears; wooden, hand-painted bunny families from Tender Leaf Toys; Meri Meri velvet-covered rabbit ears headband; the “I Am Bunny” book by Richard Scarry; and an assortment of baskets that can be stuffed with goodies for Easter then used as a backpack or picnic basket post-holiday. Prices vary. 763 Trabert Ave. NW, Atlanta. 404-355-2043, seedfactoryatlanta.com.
Gourmet goodies. Treat yourself to milk chocolate, dark chocolate ganache, milk chocolate caramel and more decadent flavors in the form of 18 bright, foil-wrapped eggs from Godiva. Sharing is optional. $29. godiva.com.
- Staff writer Shelia Poole contributed to this article.
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