10 "Egg-citing" Easter Events for St. Louis Families That Will Get You Hopping

With Easter less than two weeks away, many St. Louis families are looking for fun, kid-friendly ways to celebrate the upcoming holiday.

Whether you’re hoping to meet the Easter Bunny himself or simply want to partake in a good, old-fashioned egg hunt, we’ve rounded up 10 of the most “egg-citing” Easter events that St. Louis has to offer.
 
1. Hunt for a Cure in Forest Park
 
On Saturday, March 23, more than 50,000 eggs will be hidden on the central fields of Forest Park, and kids up to the age of 12 are invited to hunt for them! Hunt for a Cure is one of the largest egg hunts in St. Louis, and will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Gateway Chapter. Registration, which costs just $5 per family, begins at 11:00 a.m. on the day of the event, or you can register online in advance. The Easter Bunny will also arrive at 11:00 a.m. – in a carriage pulled by Clydesdales, no less – so be sure to bring your camera and dress in your Easter best.  
 
2. Bunny Hop in Shaw Park
 
Hop on over to Shaw Park in Clayton for an egg hunt, a visit with Mr. Bunny, and even a petting zoo! The hunt begins promptly at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, and advanced tickets are available at a discounted price ($6 for Clayton residents or Centre of Clayton members, $7 for non-members and non-residents) by calling 314-727-8100. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for $10.
 

3. Breakfast with the Bunny at the Saint Louis Zoo

Forget a picture with the Easter Bunny -- why not enjoy an entire meal with Easter's main attraction? On Saturday, March 23, Sunday, March 24, and Saturday, March 30, your entire family can have Breakfast with the Bunny (and other costumed characters) at the St. Louis Zoo. Seatings are available at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and pre-paid reservations are required. The cost is $20 per adult and $18 per child for Zoo Friends members (or $22 per adult and $20 per child for non-members). To make reservations, call 314-646-4897.  
 
4. River City Rascals Easter Egg Hunt
 
Looking for an Easter event in St. Charles County? Join the River City Rascals for a free family egg hunt at TR Hughes Ballpark on Saturday, March 23! Children ages 1-12 are invited to participate, and will be entered to win a free bicyce if they sign up for the River City Rascals Kids Club on the day of the event. Gates open at 10:00 a.m., and the hunt will begin at 11:00 a.m. Visit www.rivercityrascals.com or call 636-240-2287 for more information.
 
5. Hare in the Air Egg Hunt
 
It isn't every day that the Easter Bunny arrives by helicopter, which may be why the Hare in the Air Egg Hunt at Logan College of Chiropractic has become such a highly anticipated annual event. Hare in the Air is free and open to the public, and kids ages 2-8 can go on an egg hunt, explore a firetruck and a petting zoo, and enjoy balloon animals and a special appearance by Fredbird. The fun begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 23 (with the Bunny scheduled to "land" at 11:00 a.m.)
 
6. Easter Egg Hunt at the Youth Activity Park in St. Charles County
 
The 8th annual St. Charles County Parks Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Saturday, March 23 at the Youth Activity Park in Dardenne Prairie starting at 10:00 a.m. More than 4,000 candy-filled eggs will be hidden for an outdoor hunt, and egg-themed games will be set up inside the park complex. And of course, the Easter Bunny himself will be available for photos throughout the event. Children up to the age of 12 are invited to participate, and the cost is $5 per child. This hunt is limited to 100 participants, so advanced registration is encouraged by calling 636-949-7535.
 
7. Get Hopping Easter Egg Hunt
 
The annual Get Hopping Easter Egg Hunt, which takes place at Des Peres Park on Saturday, March 30, at 10:00 a.m., is perfect if you've got younger children because it's geared toward kids ages 3-6. The egg hunt is free and registration is not required, and the Easter Bunny will be present and available for pictures. Participants are asked to bring their own baskets.
 
8. Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Bunny at Soulard Market
 
Prefer to wait until the last minute to visit with the Easter Bunny? Then you'll enjoy the Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Bunny at Soulard Market on Saturday, March 30. Bring your camera for pictures with the Bunny between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 pm., and stay for the free Easter egg hunt that starts at 1:00 p.m. sharp at the Farmer's Market Plaza Area. Registration is not required.   
 
9. Enrichment 'Eggstravaganza' at the Saint Louis Zoo
 
On Easter Sunday, March 31, the Saint Louis Zoo will be holding a special Enrichment 'Eggstravaganza' from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. During this event, visitors are invited to watch as various Zoo animals participate in "egg hunts" throughout the day. From egg pinatas for the lions to plastic eggs for the lemurs, this will be anything but a typical day at the Zoo. For a complete schedule of all Enrichment 'Eggstravaganza' activities, visit www.stlzoo.org.
 
10. The Annual Egg Roll at The Magic House
 
The Easter Egg Roll has been an annual tradition at the White House since 1898, and here in St. Louis we have our own tradition -- The Annual Egg Roll at The Magic House. On Monday, April 1, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., children 12 and under are invited to a race on The Magic House's front lawn, where they'll use large spoons to roll their eggs across the finish line. Crafts, egg decorating, a special storytime, and a visit from the Easter Bunny are all part of the festivities, which are free with regular Magic House admission.    
 
Note: Almost all of the Easter egg hunts listed above divide participants into age categories, so there's no need to worry about your toddler being trampled by over-eager older kids. For more information about age categories for each individual event, click on the links provided.

For more great Easter events and egg hunts across the metro St. Louis area, check our Things To Do calendar.

By Alyssa Chirco, SmartMama blogger for SmartParenting

Alyssa Chirco is a St. Louis freelance writer, mother and margarita lover, not necessarily in that order. In addition to writing for St. Louis Kids, she is Contributing Editor for Parenting Squad, writes regularly about parenting and family for Lifetime Television's The Balancing Act, and firmly believes there are few problems in life that cannot be solved with a good margarita.