A Handful of America's Nicest Easter Egg Events
The Easter holiday is only about two weeks away on Sunday, April 8. More than 100 communities are making final preparations for their Easter egg events, which include parades, egg decorating, egg rolling, and egg hunts.
The most famous of these events is the annual White House Easter Egg Roll on April 9. The annual ticket lottery for that event closed earlier this month. The tradition started in 1878 with 19th President Rutherford B. Hayes, who invited children to play Easter games on the White House lawn after mean Congressmen banned the youngsters from the Capitol grounds.
Here are some other events nationwide. Some events are non-denominational, while others are led by local churches.
Merrillville, Indiana. At the Living Hope Church in Northwest Indiana, about an hour's drive from Chicago, about 100,000 plastic eggs will be hidden throughout the grounds, with a hunt beginning at 10 am for children 11 and under. Midday, there will be a helicopter candy drop. April 7, Lake County Fairgrounds, morning, lhcweb.org
Coconut Creek, Fla. On the morning of April 7, this town near Orlando runs hosts its second-annual hunt for 60,000-plus eggs at a local high school for kids up to fifth-gade.
" target="_blank">eggstravaganza.org
Minneapolis/St. Paul The suburban town of North Maple Grove hosts the Twin Cities' largest annual Easter Egg Hunt, with 30,000 colorful candy-filled plastic eggs being hunted on the grounds of Maple Grove Senior High School. April 8; kids up to sixth grade. Free, but reserve tickets online.
Fremont, Ohio The Hayes Presidential Center holds several egg-rolling and egg-decorating contests, with every child receiving a balloon, a pass to the Hayes Home, and treats. Admission is three hard-boiled colored eggs. afternoon of April 7, kids up to age 10, rbhayes.org/hayes
Copper Mountain Ski Resort, Colo.. On April 8, kids up to age 11 can search for 50,000 eggs in the Colorado's largest Easter egg hunt. Big kids can hunt for six "copper eggs" using Facebook check-ins as clues and with substantial prizes. midday, kids 7-11, Copper Mountain Ski Resort
Felton, Calif. Children hop on a steam train, hearing the story of Peter Rabbit, and then reach a patch in Bear Mountain where they search for chocolate candy eggs. midday, roaringcamp.com, $24, adults, $17 kids, 2-12.
Appleton, Wisc. Pathways Church, on the morning of April 7 will host a hunt with 30,000 Easter eggs and 3,000 pounds of candy. pathwayschurch.us
SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL
Our Best Ideas for Traveling with Kids