Easter soon will be here, and the Easter Bunny will be busy hopping through Long Island, hiding thousands of colorful, treat-filled eggs.
Both Eastern and Western Christian denominations this year celebrate Easter Sunday on April 16. We've rounded up egg hunts and bunny visits in some of our favorite spots.
We're glad to see so many venues have scheduled hunts by age to give both little and big kids a fair shot at filling their baskets. Remember to bring a basket (or a bag) for the kids to hold their collected treasures, and pack your camera for Easter Bunny brunches and photo-ops. (If there's a threat of rain, be sure to give a call first.)
For more kid-friendly fun, check out our Long Island Events Calendar and Spring Fun Guide.
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Nassau
Spring Eggstravaganza — Garden City
Saturday, April 8
Hop over to the Long Island Children's Museum for a special night. Meet Peter Rabbit, explore egg decorating and create spring-themed craft activities. Enjoy games and face painting. Decorate your own sweet treat and collect eggs as you hop from activity to activity. BONUS: Zoologist "Nature Nick" Jacinto presents a live show, featuring birds of prey, a flamingo, alligators, snakes, and other animals at 6:15, 7, and 7:45pm. The Eggstravaganza takes place from 6 to 9pm and tickets are $11 for non-members and $9 for members. Nature Nick's show is an additional cost. Registration is required.
Egg Hunt at Wood Kingdom — Farmingdale
Saturday, April 8
Join Wood Kingdom for its annual indoor egg hunt, open to children ages 6 and younger. Hang out with the Easter Bunny, play on bouncers, eat pizza and have a fun egg hunt. Reservations are required; tickets cost $16 each. The festivities take place from 12 to 2pm.
Breakfast With the Easter Bunny Egg Hunt — Great Neck
Sunday, April 9 and 16 and Saturday, April 15
Pump It Up Great Neck hosts a 70-minute Easter bounce, where kids can play, search and collect exactly six Easter eggs hidden around the arenas and inside the gigantic inflatables. Children can bring their eggs to the Easter Bunny, who will give them a special treat. A bagel breakfast and craft project follows the play sessions, and each child will go home with a goodie bag.
Easter Brunch Buffet and Egg Hunt — Woodbury
Easter Sunday, April 16
Woodbury Country Club hosts its annual Easter egg hunt, petting zoo, and Easter Bunny brunch (cold table, waffle station, omelet station, breakfast buffet, Italian station, salad bar, carving station, Coney Island Kids station and dessert station). Brunch takes place from 12 to 3pm; the first mimosa or Bloody Mary and all coffee and tea are FREE. Tickets are $58 for adults, $25 for children 3-12, and FREE for children 2 and younger. Reservations are required.
Suffolk
Egg-Cellent Celebration — Cold Spring Harbor
Sunday, April 2
Celebrate spring with egg-laying sea creatures at the Whaling Museum and Education Center. See a scrimshawed ostrich egg, go on an egg hunt in the museum, and decorate Faberge-style eggs. Children ages 3-6 are invited to attend the 11am-noon celebration; children 6-12 are welcome at the 1-2pm session. The cost for nonmembers is the admission plus a $5 craft fee; admission cost is waived for members.
Walt Whitman Shops Easter Egg Hunt — Huntington
Sunday, April 2
This egg hunt is for children 12 and younger; proceeds from the $5 admission cost go to St. Mary's Children's Hospital. Visit Walt Whitman's website to register.
Easter Egg Hunt — Babylon
Saturday, April 8
Register at the American Legion hall, where you can pick up clues and a collection bag and join in the annual egg hunt fun, sponsored by the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce. Use your clues to find the location and collect eggs, then return to the hall to submit each ticket (each egg has a ticket) and have a chance to win prizes. Pre-registration available.
Egg Hunt — North Babylon
Saturday, April 8
Help welcome the Easter Bunny to Belmont Lake State Park, Plastic eggs will be randomly placed throughout the picnic grove. All eggs will be filled with small candy. The event runs from noon to 2pm. One egg hunt per age category (4 and younger, 5-6, 7-9) will be conducted every 15 minutes. Activities include a small farm animal petting zoo, pony rides, environmental display, inflatable moon bounce (weather permitting), pictures with the Bunny and more. This a FREE event, but there is an $8 parking fee. Don't forget to bring your camera and baskets for the kids.
Spring Egg Hunt — Cold Spring Harbor
Saturday, April 15
Kids 8 and younger are invited to the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery for an egg hunt. Bring your own basket and collect eggs filled with treats for kids and treats for the fish. Children 2 and younger search for eggs in the Tot Garden.
Benner’s Farm Egg Hunt — East Setauket
Saturday, April 15 and Easter Sunday, April 16
Benner's Farm offers egg hunts at 12:30, 2, and 3:45pm. The petting zoo fun is included. Bring your own basket so kids can store the eggs they collect.
The Easter Bunny introduces kids to the village's annual parade and egg hunt. Photo courtesy of Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.
2017 Easter Parade & Egg Hunt — Port Jefferson
Easter Sunday, April 16
Wear your Easter best at the annual Port Jefferson village parade, which kicks off at noon, then enjoy an egg hunt at Harborfront Park, the Great Lawn, and Children's Park at 12:30pm. The event is FREE and children ages 2-8 go home with a special treat.
The East End
Spring Egg Hunt — Orient
Saturday, April 8
Kids of all ages are invited to Orient Beach State Park for a free egg hunt and visit from the Bunny. This event is FREE; parking fees may apply.
The Mad Hatter Egg Hunt at the Children's Museum of the East End delights kids of all ages.
Mad Hatter Egg Hunt — Bridgehampton
Saturday, April 8
The Children's Museum of the East End hosts an egg hunt, sponsored by Dan's Papers, held inside and outside of the museum. Kids of all ages decorate and design their own hats and bags after searching for "eco" eggs that contain treats and goodies. Two sessions are available,10am-noon and 1-3pm. Registration is suggested as spaces fill up quickly.
Eggstravaganza and Egg Hunt — Quogue
Saturday, April 15 and Easter Sunday, April 16
On Saturday, kids 5-12 inspect the Quogue Wildlife Refuge's nest collection for egg-design inspiration. On Sunday, the refuge hosts an egg hunt for children 2-4. Kids create a bunny craft before hunting for eggs on the Peter Cottontail Trail. Each child goes home with a special prize. Sessions are 9:30-10:30am and 11am-noon. Cost is $15 per child and registration is required.
Penguin Egg Hunt and Easter Sunday Brunch — Riverhead
Egg hunts on Saturday, April 15 and Easter Sunday, April 16; brunch, Easter Sunday, April 16
Celebrate spring at the Long Island Aquarium. On Sunday, enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Sea Star Ballroom and the chance to make a special take-home holiday craft. Leave time to enjoy the aquarium, including the Penguin Egg Hunt, which takes place from 10am to 3pm. Brunch is held at 10am, noon and 2pm. Brunch is $24.95 for children ages 3-12 and $49.95 for adults and children ages 13 and older. Brunch is FREE for children 2 and younger. A separate Penguin Egg Hunt without brunch is Saturday, April 15.
Top photo via Flickr. Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of the venues/events.
