When I was a kid, the town Easter egg hunt was a really big deal. Everybody looked forward to it. There was one hunt for the young kids and another for everyone else. The Everyone Else hunt was in a huge field scattered with candy and plastic eggs in the distance We all stood in anticipation behind a line painted in the grass, posed one foot in front of the other, ready to take off the moment we heard—bang!—the starter pistol. Off we ran toward the candy bars and eggs. Being small, I lagged behind the crowd and was lucky if I got a couple of pieces of candy. The bigger kids raked in the mother lode.
Today Easter egg hunts are almost always divided into several age groups, eggs are plentiful, and everyone comes away a winner. Besides regular egg hunts for children with prize-filled plastic eggs in plain sight, some towns have nighttime flashlight hunts for teens or egg hunts in a pool. Some even have egg hunts for dogs. Here is a list of many of the Chicago area Easter egg hunts and other Easter activities planned for 2014:
Chicago
April 12, 9 a.m. at Soldier Field
Spring Egg-Stravaganza
Kid and family friendly activities include face painting, inflatables, and balloon artists. The first group starts in the candy grab on the field at 10 a.m. Go early for breakfast with the Easter Bunny. A fee applies for breakfast, but everything else is free.
April 19 at Lincoln Park Zoo
Easter Egg-Stravaganza
Festivities, including meeting the Easter Bunny, creating crafts and visiting zoo animals run from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and the Easter egg hunt from 9 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. Carousel and train rides will be available, weather permitting. Fee applies, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
West Suburbs
April 5, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Easter Egg-Xpress: Aurora
Train departs from Aurora Metra station and goes to Naperville. See the Easter Bunny and hunt for Easter eggs. Fee applies.
April 5, 8:30-11:30
Breakfast with the Bunny: Warrenville
Warrenville Community Building, 3S260 Warren Avenue. Menu includes pancakes, sausage, fruit and beverage. Register in advance. Fee applies.
April 12, 10:00 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt: St. Charles
Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Avenue. Please limit your child to 10 eggs.
April 12, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 am.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny: Elmhurst
Wilder Mansion, 211 Prospect Avenue. Decorate bunny face pancakes, color bunny pictures, entertainment. Fee applies.
April 12, 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Doggie Easter Egg Hunt: Oakbrook Terrace
Terrace View Park, Hodges Road near Rte. 83. Dogs must wear a collar with tags. Pre-registration required.
April 12, 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt at Terrace View Park: Oakbrook Terrace
Terrace View Park, Hodges Road near Rte. 83. Pre-registration required. Fee applies. Bunny Breakfast at the Oakbrook Terrace Park District Fitness Center afterwards.
April 12, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Itasca spring Fling: Itasca
Springbrook Nature Center,130 Forest Avenue. Includes candy hunts, crafts, Easter Bunny to pose for photos.
April 12, 10 a.m.
Annual Egg Hunt: Lisle
Community Park, Short Street off of Route 53. Ages group: 2 & under; 3-5; 6-10. Advance registration required. Fee applies.
April 13, 3:30 p.m.
Underwater Egg Hunt: Elmhurst
Courts Plus swimming pool. Some eggs float, some will sink. Fee applies for non-Courts Plus members. Check the web site for rules.
April 13, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Easter Brunch, Addision
Dave & Busters, 1155 N Swift Road. Brunch, Easter Bunny, egg hunt, game cards. Fee applies.
April 17, 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt: Elmhurst
Wilder Park, 175 S Prospect Avenue. Prizes and candy. Bring your own flashlight.
April 17, 9:00 p.m.
Flashlight Egg Hunt: Lisle
Community Park Bandshell, Short Street off of Route 53. Bring your own flashlight. Registration required; fee applies.
April 18-19, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny: Lisle
Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53. Check the web site for buffet menu. Fee applies. Preregister.
April 19, 9:30 a.m.
Spring Egg Hunt: Sandwich
James Knights Park, 1001 N Latham Street. Children up to 9 years of age may participate.
April 19, 1:15 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt: Hinkley
Pioneer Park, 600 W Lincoln Avenue. Pose for a photo with the Easter Bunny.
April 19, 10 a.m.
Easter Eggstravaganza: Bensenville
Varble Park, 1000 W Wood Street (behind Deer Grove Leisure Center). Ages 2-4 10 a.m.; ages 5-7 10:30 a.m.
April 19, 10 a.m.
Egg Hunt: Elmhurst
Wilder Park, 175 S Prospect Avenue. You are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items, drug store gift cards or cash donations for the Elmhurst/Yorkfield Food Pantry.
South Suburbs
April 5, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Central Park Egg Hunt: Oak Forest
Central Park, 15601 Central Avenue, Age 2 & under, 12:30; Age 3, 1:00; Age 4-5 (Pre-K and K), 1:30; Grades 1-3, 2:00
April 11, 7:30 pm. to 8:30 p.m.
Flashlight Egg Hunt: Olympia Fields
Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center, 20000 Western Avenue. Pre-register by April 10.
April 12, 7:00 p.m.
Flashlight Egg Hunt: Olympia Fields
Sgt. Means Park, 3633 Breakers Drive. Ages 2-12. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
April 12, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 am. And 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Oak Lawn’s Annual Egg Hunt
Stony Creek Golf, Restaurant Banquets. 5850 West 103rd Street. Call for further details: 708/857-2433
April 12, 10:00 a.m.
Easter Egg Hunt: Orland Park
Centennial Park, 15600 West Avenue. Ages 1-9
April 12, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Easter Egg Hunt: Oak Lawn
Village Green, 9446 Raymond Avenue.
April 12, 10:00 a.m.
Lucky Egg Hunt: Homewood
Richard D. Irwin Park & Marie Irwin Community Center, 18120 Highland Avenue. Rain location, H-F Sports Complex. Find a lucky egg and win an extra prize.
April 12, 12:00 noon
Mokena Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt, Mokena.
Mokena Main Park, LaPorte and Mokena Streets
April 12: 10:30 a.m.
Great Dog Egg Hunt
Richard D. Irwin Park & Marie Irwin Community Center, 18120 Highland Avenue. Dogs must be on a leash. Dog owners under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
April 12, 13, 19. 9:00 am. And Brookfield Zoo
Breakfast with the Bunny
Brookfield Zoo Discovery Center, 3300 Golf Road. Reservations required.
April 13, 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.
Bunny Hop: Tinley Park
South Street and 67th Court, adjacent to the Oak Park Avenue train station. Egg hunt, kid crafts, games, food, craft show, more.
Northwest
April 12, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Bunny Bash: Schaumburg
Community Recreation Center, 505 N Springinsguth Road. Egg hunts, games, inflatables, train ride, more. Registration required. Fee applies
April 13, 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at GameWorks: Schaumburg
601 N Martingale Road. Breakfast, photo with Easter Bunny, egg hunt, game play. Bring in non-perishable food item and received $5 credit play card. Register by April 12.
April 17, 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Underwater EGGstravaganza: Schaumburg
505 N Springinsguth Road. 6:15, age 2 and younger; 6:30 p.m. age 3-4; 6:45 age 5-6; 7:00 7-8, 7:15 9 and older. 7:30: zero-depth pool open for all ages to swim. Egg hunts, entertainment, games, prizes. Registration required by April 15.
April 19, 10:00 a.m.
Boomers Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Schaumburg
Boomers Stadium, 1999 S Springinsguth Road. Gates open at 9:30, egg hunt begins at 10 a.m. Four age groups: 3 and under, age 4 to 6, age 7 to 8, age 9 and older. $2 per person, cash only, incudes ticket for any May Boomers game.
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