I love the Easter holiday weekend and the signs of spring that (hopefully) accompany it. My eldest, Lucas was born on Good Friday, so the weekend always carries extra significance for me about new life and a fresh start. Ottawa and the surrounding communities offer a ton of wonderful options when it comes to family friendly Easter activities – such as egg hunts, markets and more. So be sure to check out my list of all the best events and get your calendars out to start planning – and make sure you look closely! Most of these events are over the Easter long weekend…but some take place on the weekends and weekdays leading up to Easter too.

Easter Egg Hunts

• Egg Hunts at Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm – 2452 York’s Corners Rd, Saturday April 6, Sunday April 7, Saturday April 13, Sunday April 14 and Saturday April 20 (advance tickets to these popular events are already SOLD OUT, but they do offer same day tickets if you show up at the sugar bush, you can meet the Easter Bunny, take a wagon ride out to the sugar bush and search for the lost eggs, Adults are $5.25 a ticket, children are $7.50)
• Easter Weekend Egg Hunt – Proulx Maple and Berry Farm, Friday April 19 – Monday April 22, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (enjoy a buffet pancake brunch, different seatings offered throughout the day, reservations recommended, plus pay farm admission to enjoy an egg hunt, face painting, and a clue hunt)
• Sparkling Egg Hunt – Canadian Children’s Museum, April 8 to 22, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (The Easter Bunny has hidden 10 sparkling eggs throughout the Children’s Museum. Find them all to collect a sweet treat. Included with museum admission)
• EGGstravaganza at My Gym – 220 Kennevale Dr, Friday April 12, 5:00 pm – 7:15 pm (games, rides, songs, dances, and egg hunt and more, $10 for members, $15 non members, with two time slots available divided by age groups, register ahead of time)
• Princess Easter Egg Hunt – Kids Kingdom Orleans, Sunday April 14, 9:00 am – 10:30 am (join the princesses from Fairytale Princess Parties for a magical Easter egg hunt in the play area, and fun activities in the party room, tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance)
• Easter Fun at the Log Farm – 670 Cedarview Rd, Friday April 19 – Monday April 22, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Easter egg hunt that runs throughout the day and tractor drawn wagon ride, baby animals, $6 admission)
• Easter Egg Hunt at Valley View Little Animal Farm – 4750 Fallowfield Rd, Friday April 19 – Monday April 22, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (it’s the first weekend of the year the farm is back open for business, the egg hunt runs all day with admission to the farm, collect some coloured eggs and turn them in for a treat, plus get to see all the new baby animals)

• Bell’s Bunny Hop at Fairfields Heritage House – Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (collect all the pieces of the Fairfields puzzle to get a delicious chocolate treat, plus make an Easter bunny mask, admission is $17.50 a family)
• Bunny Hop at Kanata Central – starts at Landmark Cinemas in Kanata, Saturday April 20, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm ( check in to the event between noon and 1 pm for this free scavenger Easter egg hunt with lots of treats, activities and prizes for the whole family, meet live baby bunnies, face painting, plus meet the Easter bunny)
• The Egg-Cellent Easter Scavenger Hunt – Carlingwood Shopping Centre, Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (visit centre court to grab a map and follow the Easter Bunny’s trail around the mall to find 20 hidden Easter egg posters. Once you’ve found them all you will receive a Purdy’s chocolate treat and $5 Carlingwood gift card)
• Easter at the Bunker – Diefenbunker Museum, Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (enjoy a clever family friendly scavenger hunt using camouflaged eggs, three levels to challenge all ages, $12 a person, children under 2 are free, tickets must be purchased in advance!)
• Easter at the Estate – Billing’s Estate National Historic Site, Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (explore Easter traditions, complete activities and collect up tokens to redeem for a delicious treat, petting zoo, drop-in style, $17.50 per family)
• Hoppy Easter Family Event – Ottawa Humane Society, Saturday April 20, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm (free event, craft and bake sale plus Easter themed crafts, egg races, scavenger hunt, photos with the Easter bunny, face painting and cookie decorating)
• Easter Eggstravaganza – Bytown Museum, Sunday April 21st, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (participate in an egg-hunt throughout the the three levels of exhibits at the museum)

Unique Easter Events

• The Great Egg Race – Lansdowne Park, Saturday April 13, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Design an egg car, build it and compete in the Great Egg Race, children register for a race according to their age, other fun free family activities throughout the day)
• Alice in Wonderland Event – Carlingwood Shopping Centre, Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (join Alice and her friends for Flamingo Croquet, Tea Cup Toss, Tea with Alice, crafts, face painting and more)
• Easter at the Farm – Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, Friday April 19 – Monday April 22, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm (visit the newborn animals, hop on a tractor ride, take part in an egg roll race in the meadow, face painting, entertainment and more)
• Hop Into Spring – Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (explore vintage Easter traditions, try some traditional egg dyeing, plant carrots seeds and more, $19.75 per family, children 5 and under are free)

Easter Markets

• Easter Eggstravaganza Crafters Market – Navan Memorial Community Centre, Saturday April 6, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (30 local crafters and vendors, face painting and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny)
• Carp Easter Market – 3790 Carp Rd, Saturday April 20, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm (over 60 local vendors, food court, free gift basket draw, kids club colouring contest)

Meet the Easter Bunny

• The Easter Bunny at Hazeldean Mall – Saturday April 6 and Sunday April 7, Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14 and Saturday April 20, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (come and have your portrait taken with the Easter Bunny, 4 high resolution digital photos for $20)
• The Easter Bunny at Billings Bridge Mall – Thursday April 4 to Saturday April 20, Monday to Friday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, and weekends 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (The Easter Bunny will be set up in center court for pictures and fun giveaways for the kids)