When the Easter holiday rolls around, there’s no shortage of family-friendly entertainment in the Annapolis area. Whether you have small children who treasure Easter egg hunts or older kids who appreciate more interactive experiences, Annapolis has many different opportunities for visiting the Easter Bunny, searching for eggs, doing crafts, or something completely different.
Here are just three of the big events in the area you can look forward to this year.
3 Local Easter Events
1. The Easter Bunny Visits the Westfield Annapolis Mall
While there are many places you can catch a visit with the Easter Bunny throughout the season, from volunteer fire departments to community social halls, the biggest and most popular is always the visit at the Westfield Annapolis Mall. Booked through WhereIsBunny.com, these visits are available every day of the week in the court right outside California Pizza Kitchen—and although reservations are encouraged, they are not required and walk-up guests are welcome. Visits are Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. (Reservations are scheduled in time blocks of 15 minutes, and as many as five families can reserve a slot per block of time.)
When families visit with the Easter Bunny at the Annapolis Mall, they’ll get two gifts to take home with them. First, each kid will get a free copy of Highlights, the favorite kid-centric magazine with all kinds of reading material, pictures, and games that will encourage their sense of creativity and confidence. The second thing participating families will get is access to MyPhoto, an online resource for transforming photos from the visit into festive graphics you can use on cards or printouts. There are a variety of photo packages available. Learn more about Easter Bunny visits at the Annapolis Mall here.
2. The Navy Football Eggstravaganza
Navy football is a much-loved tradition in the Annapolis area, and even though the season doesn’t officially start until the fall, local residents can get a sneak peek at this year’s team during an open practice on Saturday, April 8, starting at 9:00 AM. The open practice will even be followed by an autograph session with the team.
What makes this such a great Easter tradition? Well, all the eggs-centric activities, of course! There will be a visit from the Easter Bunny, an Easter basket giveaway, artists doing glitter tattoos and creating balloon animals, carnival games, and much more. Although the practice begins at 9:00 AM, the Easter festivities will begin at 10:00 AM and will continue until noon. All of it takes place at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and is free for the entire community.
3. PEEPshow: A Display of Marshmallow Masterpieces
Although this one is a little outside of the Annapolis area, it’s still worth the drive if you’re looking for a unique celebration. From March 31 through April 10, you can check out displays of the amazing artwork created using PEEPS marshmallows at the TownMall of Westminster (400 N Center Street, Westminster, Maryland). You’ll be able to see sculptures, dioramas, mosaics, and videos using PEEPS bunnies and chicks. Although the display is free to look at, you have the option of buying votes to participate in choosing a winner. All proceeds from the fundraising will benefit the Carroll County Arts Council. The TownMall is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM and on Sunday from noon to 5:30 PM, including Easter Sunday. You can find more info on the Carroll County Arts Council website.
Don’t See the Right Event? Plan a Hunt in Your Neighborhood!
If you’re moving into one of the many close-knit neighborhoods in the Annapolis area, there’s a chance that your new community association already holds an Easter egg hunt every year at a local park or common area. But if they don’t, there’s no reason that you can’t help get an annual tradition started! Organizing an Easter egg hunt in your neighborhood can be a fun way to bring the community together during the holiday season. Here are some steps you can follow to organize an Easter egg hunt in your neighborhood.
-
Plan the event
Decide on the date, time, and location for the Easter egg hunt. Make sure to choose a time when most people are available, and select a location that is easily accessible for everyone.
-
Invite participants
Send out invitations to your neighbors inviting them to participate in the Easter egg hunt. If your neighborhood already has a newsletter, that’s an easy place to advertise, but you can also use social media, email, or flyers to spread the word.
-
Purchase supplies
Purchase plastic eggs, candy, and any other prizes or decorations you might need for the event.
-
Recruit volunteers and solicit donations
You’ll need plenty of volunteers to help keep the hunt running smoothly on the big day. You can also get toys or gift cards donated by a local business to serve as prizes. A local bakery or restaurant might be interested in donating snacks for all participants and families.
-
Hide the eggs
Hide the Easter eggs in the designated area before the event begins. Make sure to hide the eggs in areas that are safe and easily accessible for children.