‘In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, you’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.’
Easter means a lot of different things to different people in Lake County. Even though everyone doesn’t celebrate, there are a plethora events for everyone (i.e. the opening of Six Flags Great America). For others, it is just a chance to host a family pow wow and dinner.
For those of you who refrain from meat eating during Lent, welcome back my fellow carnivores.
From egg hunts to brunches, from festivals to bunny meet and greets and of course the Easter parade, here is your Guide to Easter Celebrations in Lake County.
Adults and kids alike are obsessed with brunch (Heck I know I am). All I can think about is steak and eggs with a side of roasted potatoes and an English muffin. Here is a list of breakfast, brunch and lunch options for Easter.
When I was a child, I was stumped for hours over a riddle indicating where Mr. Rabbit hid the gold egg.
So whether that wily old rabbit is hiding your ordinary plastic egg with candy in it or you’re a member of the “Ocean’s Twelve” team preparing for a Fabergé egg heist, you can enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the pursuit of more sweets. (Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids).
The hoppin' event hosted by the Sullivan Community Center is for children eight years old and younger. The egg hunt is the main event, but attendees will also enjoy a visit with the bunny, a magic show and a continental breakfast. Register online for this event (hunt is weather permitting).
This Gurnee event includes an egg hunt, crafts and a photo op with Peter Cottontail. There is also a High-Tech Hunt for all ages. For the grand prize, locate the golden egg.
Historic Downtown Long Grove is hosting their egg hunt at Buffalo Creek Park. The event features a meet and greet with live chicks and bunnies, crafts, wagon rides and more. Children accompanied by an adult will have free admission, and all kiddies get a goodie bag (while supplies last). This event is welcome for children ages 2 to 10. Village Tavern is also hosting a lunch date with the Easter Bunny.
This event requires pre-registration by March 31. Visit Grayslake Central Park and for the floral colored eggs hunt. This event is appropriate for children walking age to seven years old.
Children ages 2-10 are welcome to the Lake Zurich Easter Egg Hunt at Lions Park. The event will include a moon bounce, a DJ spinning some tunes to dance to and games. The hunt will commence at noon no matter the weather.
The Great Egg Quest at Mundelein Community Center combines skill, challenges, decision-making and determination. Families will be challenged to perform physical tasks, follow clues and think quickly. The quest may include indoor and outdoor challenges. Register by April 1.
On Holy Thursday, the older kids get a chance to scour the earth for eggs after the sun has set. For children ages 11-15, participants can collect a limit of 10 eggs at the event hosted at Antioch's Centennial Park.
Brightly colored plastic eggs blanket the grand just waiting to get picked up. Each egg contains candy or a toy. The event also includes a meet and greet with the Spring Bunny ready to snap a selfie with you. Be sure to bring a basket to hold your eggs.
Ready or not here we come. Paulus Park in Lake Zurich is hosting a ‘hide-n-glow seek’ Nitelite Egg Hunt. If you are the lucky finder of one of the golden eggs, you have the opportunity to win some great prizes. After the hunt concludes, stay for the party as the Lake Zurich park will have a DJ playing tunes, pizza and beverages. Space is limited, and this drop-off event is meant for children ages 9 to 12 years old. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight and a bag for your eggs.
Over 10,000 eggs are tucked away and 300 prizes ready to be found for lucky kids between ages 1-9. The Grayslake hunt is a free event, but the Fairground urges attendees to bring a non-perishable product for the local food pantry. The Easter Bunny is available pre-and-post hunt for some snapshot memories.
Easter eggs are hidden under hundreds of balloons at the Doubletree Hotel courtyard in Mundelein. The event will relocate to the ballroom if the weather is an issue. Local vendors will be in attendance.
The sweet treat center in Pleasant Prairie, WI knows how to celebrate Easter. The Easter Hoppening event features face painting, balloon art, raffles and prizes, a free tour on the Jelly Belly Express train and a photo-op with the Easter Bunny. Keepsake photos with the storied bunny are $15.
Egg detectives, ages 2-13 years old, will take a hop along Belvidere Park’s bunny trail in Waukegan. On this trail, participants will visit with the Easter Bunny (and his friends) and search for eggs. Food vendors will be attendance as well.
Lake County’s oldest Easter Egg hunt and the wabbit is still cunning enough to find 10,000 hiding spots for his eggs. The lucky finders of four golden eggs will receive new bicycles.
Festivals, Bunny Banter and Other Easter Weekend Events
[caption id="attachment_7276" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Peter Patterson Glassworks eggs[/caption]
Make Your Own Glass Egg Open House at Peter Patterson Glassworks
It's that time of year again to make your glass egg for Easter. Choose a color and create a masterpiece. Eggs at this open house are only $65 for a small one, usually priced at $125, or $125 for a large one, normally $200. This is an open house event and is based on first come first served basis. Dress code must be honored.
Soothing Bunny is an opportunity for children with Autism and other special needs (and their siblings) to visit the Easter Bunny in a more soothing and sensory-friendly environment. Pictures are available for purchase from Cherry Hill. The first 100 children will receive a Hawthorn Mall Easter Bunny stuffed animal and be able to participate in our Easter Craft. Maggiano’s will also provide a quiet area in their restaurant for some light refreshments after you get your picture taken.
This event includes a photo op with the big bunny, a face painter, balloon artist, kid’s crafts, prizes and more near the gazebo. Enter for a chance to win a $250 shopping spree.
[caption id="attachment_7277" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Easter Bunny at Gurnee Mills[/caption]
April 7-8; 7 p.m., April 9; 2 p.m. and April 14-15; 7 p.m.
Zion Passion Play is a spiritual drama depicting the life, ministry trials, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. This pageant has been one of the unique ministries of Christ Community Church since 1935.
The Improv Playhouse in Libertyville will produce "The Gathering.” For nearly a decade the Libertyville facility has hosted the late-Josephine Raciti Forsberg's contemporary adaptation about the Last Supper.
A run paired with a hunt is the perfect way to celebrate Easter. Take a fun run (or fun hop) down the Des Plaines River Trail for a 5K, 10K or 15K stepping off in Independence Grove in Libertyville at 8:30 a.m. The Lake County Forest Preserve is also hosting a kids 200-meter dash that starts at 8 a.m. After the dash is complete, the hunt for Easter eggs begins. The egg hunt is for children ages 8 and younger.
Get eggcited! The Spring Fling, which is a Vernon Hills mall-hosted event features an Easter egg hunt, a meet and greet with Shaun the sheep, live entertainment by Mary Macaroni, a petting zoo, balloon artists and face painting.
Don’t forget your Easter bonnet for the parade! The parade is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following the precession, the Easter Egg hunt commences on the Williams Park baseball field for children ages 1-10. Children will receive ten eggs each and have a chance to win three exclusive Easter Baskets per age group. The cost is $3 per child in advance. The week of the event the ticket price is $5 per wristband. There will be no registration the day of the hunt.
Get your glow on at Tilt Studio in Gurnee Mills. Children ages 2 to 6 years old will search for a dazzling array of glow-in-the-dark eggs on their Black Light Mini Golf Course at 12:30 p.m. Children ages 7 to 11 will explore the nooks and crannies of the Black Light Laser Tag Arena for eggs at 1 p.m. Each egg contains candy, coupons or game cards.
Friday-Sunday, April 14-16; Fri & Sat 10:30-6 p.m., Sunday Noon-6 p.m.
Six Flags Great America’s unofficial to their season is Easter Weekend. Join the Looney Tunes themselves as the Gurnee amusement park provides 14 roller coasters, live entertainment, high-energy shows, delectable eats, thrill rides and more.
For other events throughout the two weekends not listed in the Guide to Easter Celebrations, continue here.
Antioch's Annual Eggcellent Easter Adventure & Parade. Photo Credit: Daily Herald[/caption] 
