Easter Egg Hunts, Parades, and Other Fun Activities in NYC
Next weekend is Easter already! A holiday which is a great excuse to celebrate spring, wear lots of florals, get together with family, microwave some peeps, and eat a ton of chocolate. For kids, though, Easter is all about the egg hunt (although the Faberge Big Egg Hunt is fun for adults too). If you're looking to supplement or replace your home hunt with something a bit more festival-like, here's a quick look at several options around town. Keep in mind, these types of events are always crowded!
Upper West Side Easter Egg Hunts
On the Upper West Side, The Children's Museum of Manhattan has a number of egg-related activities throughout the week, leading up to a two-hour, CMOM-wide hunt on the morning of Easter Sunday. They're usually pretty organized, so this is likely to more fun than frantic.
Up at the always-worth-a-visit Cathedral of St. John the Divine (check out those massive Phoenix!), there all still some spots available at the 2:00 Eggstravangaza decorating workshop this Saturday, April 12.
The big Parks Department Egg Hunt in Central Park may or may not be happening this year (it'll be at the Great Hill on Saturday 19 if they do decide to reinstate this one-time tradition), but there is a smaller hunt at 76th Street and CPW you can check out on Easter Sunday, courtesy of the Fourth Universalist church.
Upper East Side Easter Activities
Upper East Siders get their egg activities a little early this year, with the seventh annual Carl Schurz Park Egg Hunt happening this Saturday, April 12, from 11:00 to 1:00. Expect lots of kids, music, maybe the Mayor (!?), and definitely a big bunny running around.
Less organized (and not a hunt) but my family's favorite NYC Easter event is the annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival, for which the city closes down Fifth Avenue between 49th and 57th Streets and hundreds of folks just show up in crazy hats and outrageously-springy outfits, mingle around, take millions of photos, and go home. Always a festive, nicely low-key atmosphere.
Celebrating Easter in Downtown NYC
Heading downtown, Saint Luke's on Hudson Street in the West Village has a hunt on Easter Sunday at 10:30. Details are scant, but if nothing else you'll be just a few blocks south of the excellent Li-Lac Chocolates on 8th Avenue and Jane Street!
Finally, something called Full Bunny Contact is going down on the Lower East Side, with which I have no personal experience, but it's billed as an "INSANE Easter Carnival" with games, candy, contests, candy, a Creepy Easter Bunny, candy, a Dunk Jesus booth, a "Temper Tantrum" contest, candy … could be hoot, especially for the 8-to-12-year-old set. This is running from Thursday through Sunday, April 17 to 20. Your call.
What are your plans for Easter this year? Tell us in the comments!
Posted in NYC Events | Tagged Easter • easter egg hunts nyc 2014 • easter nyc 2014
