Get Hopping! 15 Easter "Egg-stravaganzas" for St. Louis Families
Easter may still be a few weeks away, but the time to start hunting for eggs is now! Grab your baskets and get ready to indulge in some jelly beans, because we’ve rounded up 15 of the most family-friendly Egg hunt events the St. Louis area has to offer. From local community egg hunts to citywide “egg-stravaganzas,” each and every one guarantees springtime fun and special memories for children and adults alike.
1. Hare in the Air Egg Hunt
At the annual Hare in the Air Egg Hunt at Logan College of Chiropractic, the Easter Bunny arrives by . . . wait for it . . . helicopter! Kids ages 2-8 can go on an egg hunt, explore a firetruck, a petting zoo and balloon artists, and, of course, have their picture taken with the Bunny. Hare in the Air is set for Saturday, March 29 beginning at 10 a.m., with the Bunny scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. The event is free and open to the public.
2. Easter Egg-citement at Eckert’s
Hop on over to Eckert’s in Belleville to participate in the largest Easter egg hunt in Southwestern Illinois. Hunts take place every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on April 5, 6, 12, 13, 18 and 19, with no advanced registration required. Participants will enjoy face painting and baby chicks and bunnies, and get to meet the Easter Bunny himself. Breakfast with the Bunny also takes place in Belleville on the same dates. For more information about all the Easter fun at Eckert’s, visit eckerts.com
3. Enrichment Eggstravaganza at the St. Louis Zoo
Kids aren’t the only ones who can hunt for eggs; at the Saint Louis Zoo, the animals can do it too! On Sunday, April 20 (yes, that is Easter Sunday) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Louis families are invited to enjoy special enrichment activities for both kids and animals. From egg pinatas for the lions to plastic eggs for the lemurs, this will be anything but a typical day at the Zoo. See a complete schedule of the day’s activities here.
4. Hunt for a Cure in Queeny Park
Hunt for a Cure, which benefits the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, is one of the largest egg hunts in St. Louis. This year, the well-known event is moving to Queeny Park on Saturday, April 12, where more than 60,000 eggs will be hidden for children to find. Registration, which costs $10 per family, begins at 11 a.m. on the day of the event, or you can pre-register online. The Easter Bunny will also arrive at 11 a.m. so be sure to bring your camera and dress in your Easter best.
5. 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, April 5, 12 and 19 and Sunday, April 6 and 13, your entire family can have Breakfast with the Bunny (and other costumed characters) at the Saint Louis Zoo. Seatings are available at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and pre-paid reservations are required. To make reservations, call (314) 646-4897.
6. 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, April 12, and advanced tickets are available at a discounted price by calling 314-727-8100. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for $10.
7. Kimmswick Easter Egg Hunt
Take a drive to the charming city of Kimmswick, which hosts an annual egg hunt in the field by its Apple Butter Pavilion. Local merchants donate eggs filled with candy and prize certificates, and the Easter Bunny will be hopping around handing out eggs for the adults. The Kimmswick Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m.
8. Egg-citing Egg Hunt at Purina Farms
Purina Farms has a brand new egg hunt this year, scheduled for Sunday, April 13 at 2 p.m. Children ages 12 and under are invited to participate in the Egg-citing Egg Hunt, but pre-registration is required at www.purinafarms.com. While you're there, be sure to visit Springtime Village, which features plenty of springtime fun for the entire family.
9. Egg Drop STL
Usually, Easter eggs are hidden on the ground, but at Egg Drop STL, they will be falling from the sky. Yes, you read that correctly, on Saturday, April 19 at 3 p.m., the Easter Bunny will drop candy-filled eggs from a helicopter. Learn more about this new (and free) community event at www.eggdropstl.com.
10. The EggnOrmous Easter Egg Hunt in Dardenne Prarie
If you live in St. Charles County, be sure to check out the EggnOrmous Easter Egg Hunt at John Weldon Elementary School on Saturday, April 19. Over 20,000 eggs will be hidden, and carnival games, balloon artists and door prizes from local business are all part of the "egg-citement."
11. Get Hopping Easter Egg Hunt
The annual Get Hopping Easter Egg Hunt – which takes place at Des Peres park on Saturday, April 19 at 10 a.m. sharp – is perfect if you have younger children because it's only for ages 3-6. The hunt is free and registration is not required, and the Easter Bunny will be available for pictures. Participants are asked to bring their own baskets.
12. Teen Easter Egg Hunt in Hazelwood
Many egg hunts are designed for ages 12 and under, but even teens (ages 13 to 18) can get in on the action at the Teen Easter Egg Hunt at White Birch Park on Friday, April 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $10 per person and tickets are required. For more information, visit www.hazelwoodmo.org.
13. Easter Egg Hunt at the Youth Activity Park in St. Charles
The annual St. Charles County Parks Easter Egg Hunt will take place at the Youth Activity Park in Dardenne Prairie on Saturday, April 12. More than 4,000 candy-filled eggs will be hidden for an outdoor hunt, and, of course, the Easter Bunny himself will be available for photos. This hunt is limited to 100 participants, so advanced registration is encouraged by calling 636-561-4964 or visiting www.stccparks.org.
14. Egg Hunt at the Jefferson County Library
Live a little further south? Prefer to hunt for eggs on a weekday? At the Arnold Branch of the Jefferson County Library, kids can participate in one of two Egg Hunts scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, April 17 at 2 and 4 p.m. Both hunts also include crafts and story time for ages 3-12. For more information and to register, call 636-296-2204.
15. 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 21, 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. A scavenger hunt, spring-inspired art projects and a visit from the Easter Bunny are all part of the festivities, which are free with museum 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 day-to-day events – egg hunts and lots more – visit our Things to Do calendar. Click on "Calendar" to see all the month's events on one page.
Lots of fun egg hunts are coming up this weekend (and next) in #STL! Your kids will love these: http://t.co/L3EohDIugS
— STL Parent (@stlparent) April 9, 2014
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Alyssa Chirco is a freelance writer, mother and margarita lover, not necessarily in that order. In addition to writing for STL Parent, she is Contributing Editor at Parenting Squad, and covers parenting, health and lifestyle topics for publications across the country. She recently moved from the suburbs of St. Louis to a small town in rural Jefferson County, where she is learning to survive with no Target or Starbucks in sight. Follow her on Twitter @AlyssaChirco
