Spring has sprung in Florida, bringing warmer temperatures, beautiful blooms, pollen wafting through the air and the Easter season. During the holiday weekend, Orlando-area churches, businesses and attractions plan to host families for Easter egg hunts and activities.
Here are some ideas for celebrating Easter in Central Florida.
Easter egg hunts
The City of Ocoee hosts its annual “Easter Eggstravaganza” with egg hunts, games, music, face painting and food trucks outside of the Ocoee Lakeshore Center. The free event is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 4 at 125 N. Lakeshore Drive in Ocoee. Before the outdoor festivities, families can attend brunch with the Easter Bunny from 9-11 a.m. for $15 per person. Advance registration is required. More information: 407-905-3180 or ocoee.org
Egg Ocoee at Glad Tidings Church has a helicopter egg drop with children split by age into four zones. There will also be pictures with the Easter Bunny, games, inflatable bouncy houses and more for free. The event is from 9 a.m.-noon April 4 at 2009 E. Fullers Cross Road in Ocoee. More information: wearegt.com/eggocoee
Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel
Hundreds of Easter egg hunters search the streets at the Magic 107.7 Easter Egg Hunt in downtown historic Longwood in 2021. (Orlando Sentinel file)
The Magic 107.7 Easter Egg Hunt offers children a chance to hop down the bunny trail and search for hidden eggs during nine different hunts, plus game and activity booths with concessions available for purchase. The free festivities are 9:30 a.m.-noon April 4 at 155 W. Warren Ave. in downtown Longwood. The same morning, there will be seatings for a “Bunny Breakfast” beginning at 9 a.m. with sausage patties, pancakes, beverages and Easter Bunny photo ops for $9 per adult and $7 per child ages 3-10. More information: magicegghunt.com
Faith Assembly of God has activities geared toward children on each of its four campuses, including an activity zone, food trucks and back-to-back Easter egg hunts every 30 minutes. The festivities take place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. April 4. The campuses are at 9307 Curry Ford Road and 2740 E. Michigan St. in Orlando, 2641 Red Bug Lake Road in Casselberry and 2690 N. Narcoossee Road in St. Cloud. More information: faithassembly.org
Courtesy/Central Florida Zoo
The Hippity Hop Adventure returns to the Central Florida Zoo to celebrate Easter with family-friendly fun. (Courtesy Central Florida Zoo)
Central Florida Zoo will provide a “Hippity Hop Adventure” with the Easter Bunny and chances to collect treats, make crafts and play games. The Easter Bunny will be available for photo ops with young ones. This year also includes an “Adopt an Animal” vet check experience (for an additional fee) by bringing a plush animal for a pretend check-up. Festivities take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 4 and are included with zoo admission ($19.95-$28.95) at 3755 W. Seminole Blvd. in Sanford. More information: centralfloridazoo.org
Boxi Park Lake Nona hosts an Easter “Eggstravaganza” with thousands of eggs to find, plus a coloring station, crafts and games, Easter character meet and greets, a photo booth and local vendors. The free event is from 10 a.m.-noon April 4 at 6877 Lake Nona Blvd. in Orlando. More information: boxiparklakenona.com
The Town of Windermere hosts an egg hunt “extravaganza” sponsored by the Windermere Police Foundation. The lucky child who finds a golden ticket wins a bike. The event also includes a festive parade and photos with the Easter Bunny. Enjoy the festivities from 10 a.m.-noon April 4 at 520 Main St. in Windermere. More information: town.windermere.fl.us
Island H2O Live hosts an “Egg-Stravaganza” for water park visitors with eggs hidden for young guests to discover. The hunt, included with park admission, is April 3-5 at 3230 Inspiration Drive in Kissimmee. More information: islandh2owaterpark.com
Kings Orlando has an adults-only egg hunt after dark at the bowling alley. Each egg has a “wild dare card” with challenges from bowling with your non-dominant hand to letting the bartender pick your next shot. Prizes are available, including the Golden Egg, which awards a complimentary party at Kings with space for 12 friends to bowl, eat and play on the house. The event begins at 8 p.m. April 4 at 8255 International Drive, Suite 120, in Orlando. More information: playatkings.com/easter
Green Meadows Petting Farm in Kissimmee has a “Hippity Hoppity Easter Egg Hunt” complete with bunny photo ops, farm-style fun, a tractor-pull ride and animal encounters. The event is $15 per person and is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 3-5 at 1881 Jack Calhoun Drive in Kissimmee. More information: greenmeadowsfarm.com
Audubon Center for Birds of Prey hosts a raptor egg hunt, providing a “wild twist” to the Easter tradition. Find seven hidden raptor egg images and fact sheets, learning about hawks, owls, eagles and other birds of prey along the way. The scavenger hunt is included with center admission 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 4-5 at 1101 Audubon Way in Maitland. More information: audubon.org/cbop
Church At The Cross welcomes guests for a family event on Easter Sunday. Enjoy kid-friendly festivities including egg hunts, games, prizes and food. The event begins at 9:45 a.m. April 5 at 700 Good Homes Road in Orlando. The church also has a “Great Spring Thing” event from 6:30-8:30 p.m. April 8 geared toward children who are toddlers through fifth grade. More information: catcorlando.com
People gather at sunrise for a church service during the ninth annual Easter Eat, Pray, Swim event at Lucky’s Lake Swim in Orlando in 2019. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)
Family-friendly events
Eat, Pray, Swim at Lucky’s Lake Swim is a Central Florida tradition dating back at least a decade. The sunrise service begins at 7:11 a.m. April 5, followed by an open-water swim and a pancake breakfast. The swim, of course, is not required of all worshippers. Bring a lawn chair and blankets for the event at 6645 Lake Cane Drive in Orlando. More information: luckyslakeswim.com
SeaWorld Orlando offers a free Easter sunrise service in conjunction with Z88.3 FM and Shadow & Grace to lead in worship. Worship will be led by Jeremy Rosado, and pastor Joel Hunter will deliver the Easter message. Gates open at 5 a.m. and the service begins at 6:30 a.m. April 5 at 7007 SeaWorld Drive in Orlando. More information: zradio.org
Gaylord Palms Resort brings families an array of springtime offerings through April 5. Visitors can find an “eggspression garden” and spring blooms in the resort’s atrium, a themed light show and a garden gnome scavenger hunt. At select times through April 5, young ones can meet the Easter Bunny. Spring festivities happen now through April 5 at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee. More information: marriott.com
The Morse Museum in Winter Park celebrates with free admission Friday-Sunday of Easter weekend, in addition to live music from 5-8 p.m. Friday. The museum is open 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. April 3, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 4 and 1-4 p.m. April 5 at 445 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park. More information: morsemuseum.org
Kissimmee Main Street presents “Hop On Downtown” in Historic Downtown Kissimmee with egg hunts, local vendors, Easter Bunny photos, arts and crafts, live music and family fun. The event is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 4 in downtown Kissimmee. More information: kissimmeemainstreet.org
Promenade at Sunset Walk hosts a car and truck show on Saturday of Easter weekend, complete with live music by DJ Jennifer, appearances by the Easter Bunny and thousands of Easter eggs hidden around the Promenade and distributed by show car drivers. All makes and models are invited to participate in the show. The free event is from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 4 at 3251 Margaritaville Blvd. in Kissimmee. More information: sunsetwalk.com
Urban Air Adventure Park hosts the “ultimate Easter egg hunt” at its trampoline park with family-friendly fun and Easter crafts. The event is included with paid admission from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 4 at 5758 Hamlin Grove Trail in Winter Garden. More information: facebook.com
Old Town Kissimmee offers an Easter Bunny meet and greet from 2-4 p.m. April 4 at 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee. More information: myoldtownusa.com
Icon Park hosts visits with the Easter Bunny through April 4. (Courtesy Icon Park)
Icon Park allows visitors to have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny, and every photo package purchased includes a free carousel ride at the Promenade. Guests can also receive discounts to The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and Sea Life Orlando Aquarium. The experience has a $20 deposit per family and counts toward the purchase of a print photo package or USB package. Sessions are available through April 4 at 8375 International Drive in Orlando. Advanced reservations are required. More information: iconparkorlando.com
The Mall at Millenia offers Easter Bunny photos to celebrate the season through April 4 at 4200 Conroy Road in Orlando. A $15 deposit is required for reservations online, which will be applied to purchases at checkout. More information: mallatmillenia.com
The Florida Mall provides families with the chance to have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny through April 5 at 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. Online reservations are recommended, but walk-ups are available. More information: simon.com
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