Though Easter has not arrived yet, many organizations, churches and farms in the area are getting a head start on the holiday.Â
If you are looking for an opportunity to meet the Easter bunny or take a kiddo egg hunting, these area events are for you.
Thursday, March 21
Magnolia Ridge Easter Egg Hunt
5-7:30 p.m. at Magnolia Ridge Health & Rehabilitation, 6517 NW 39th Ave.
At this free event, there will be a petting zoo, vendors and food trucks, with family photo ops and a visit from the Easter bunny.
Saturday, March 23
Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza
9 a.m.-noon at O2B Kids Supercenter, 7383 SW 17th Rd.
Egg hunts are split up by age at this event, with three separate hunts for ages 0-2, 3-5 and 6-13. When it’s not your turn to hunt, you can check out carnival games and load up on candy. Admission is $15.
Amber Brooke Farms Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Ave.
This weekend and next (March 23-24, 30), Amber Brook Farms will have over 6,000 eggs scattered, along with a celebration featuring a carrot-eating contest, Easter bunny visits, local food for sale and over 40 acres of strawberry and blueberry u-picks. Tickets are $15 per child or $18 at the gate. Adults 18 and over are free.Â
Kirby Family Farm’s Rock n Roll Easter Train
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 19630 NE 30th St., Williston
Climb aboard Kirby Family Farm’s full-size historical locomotive on Florida’s largest private railroad, play games and activities, enjoy music and shows, visit the spring farm animals petting area, and visit friends around the farm to collect Easter eggs. Advance tickets are $15.99 for ages 11 and up, $20 at the gate if available. For ages 3-10, $10.99 in advance, $15 at the gate. Children two and under are free.
Easter Egg Hunt at Westside Baptist Church
10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Westside Baptist Church, 10000 W. Newberry Rd. Â
There will be free egg hunts for toddlers, preschool students, and elementary students, on top of activities for the whole family.
Star Martial Arts Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Star Martial Arts, 500 NW 60th St.
There will be over 3,000 easter eggs to find, some of which are special golden eggs containing cash, gift cards and prizes. The event is free, but you must register ahead of time to reserve your child’s spot.
Amvets Post 444: Kids Easter Party
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at 13751 NE 52nd Place, Williston.
There will be Bell’s Barnyard Babies Petting Zoo, bounce house, crafts, food and an Easter egg hunt. The event is free, but there is a signup sheet at the post, and children must be signed up for this event.
Easter Egg Hunt
2 p.m. at Gainesville Raceway, 11211 N. County Rd. 225.Â
Bring family and friends to this free event for an egg hunt, special appearance from the Easter bunny, fun music and more.Â
Butler Town Center Easter Extravaganza Â
1-4 p.m. at Butler Town Center, 3217 SW 35th Blvd.
This free event features local vendors, live performances, and photo ops with Alice and her Wonderland friends. Meet the Easter bunny, explore the balloon twisting station, win prizes and giveaways and let face painters transform your little ones into their favorite characters.
Sunday, March 24
Egg-stravaganza at One Love Cafe
10 a.m. at One Love Cafe, 4989 NW 40th Place
Bring the whole family for this free egg hunt event, which also includes live music, sack races, tug of war, and egg dying. If you RSVP, One Love Cafe will have a treat ready for you.
High Springs BMX Egg Hunt and Race
2:30 p.m. at High Springs BMX, 1050 NW 2nd St.
Interested in trying BMX racing? You can give it a try for free and do not need fancy bikes or gear to get started. Stop by our registration window on Sunday March 24th to get started and stay for the Egg Hunt after the race, for registered riders only.
Friday, March 29
Easter Party with Bluey
Tiny Village Play Cafe (9124 SW 51st Rd. B-102) is bringing Bluey back 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for play sessions, Easter crafts and candy. Tickets, $30 each, include one adult and one child 6 months and up.Â
Saturday, March 30
Waldo Flea Market Kidsfest & Easter Egg Hunt
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Gates open at 9 a.m. for the flea market (17805 US 301), and age-separated egg hunts start at 10 a.m. There will be over 10,000 eggs with candy and cash prizes. Stick around for live wrestling, a bounce house, petting zoo, face painting, pictures with the Easter Bunny, an arts and crafts table and more. Admission is $10 for adults, and kids are free.Â
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Come to the TB McPherson Recreation Complex (1717 SE 15th St.) at 10 a.m. for games, bounce houses and hundreds of eggs. The Easter bunny will make an appearance, and free food and drinks will be available while supplies last. There are prizes for kids who find the most eggs.
City of Alachua Annual Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m.-12 p.m. at Hal Brady Recreation Complex, 14300 NW 146th Terr. Â
Admission is free at Alachua’s annual Easter egg hunt, with gift baskets and eggs donated by Dollar General.
Easter Eggs-Perience at The Family Church
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., join The Family Church (2022 SW 122nd St.) for fun, games, inflatables and of course… Egg Hunt! Egg hunts will be age-specific, and all ages are welcome for inflatable axe throwing, bounce houses, cotton candy and more.Â
High Springs Easter Egg Hunt
Mini golf is available for ages 13+ at Pink Flamingo Diner (19726 NW US Hwy 441), while ages 12 and under can hunt eggs.Â
High Springs First United Methodist Church Community Easter Event
The free event starts at 10 a.m., offering a family Resurrection Egg kit, crafts, and snacks. Egg hunts are timed by age and will begin at 10:45 am. Located at 17405 NW US Hwy 441.
Micanopy Easter Egg Hunt
There will be free food, music, games and family fun from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Micanopy Ball Park, 702 NW 3rd Court.
Regal Saturday Morning Kids Flicks: Hop
Regal’s $2-per-ticket Saturday Morning Kids Flicks is in the Easter mood with “Hop” this weekend.Â
Hague Baptist Church Gainesville Easter Egg Hunt
This egg hunt comes with hotdogs and hamburgers, popcorn, cotton candy, sno-cones and a bounce house, all for free. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 6725 NW 126th Ave.
Destiny Community Church Easter EGGstravaganza
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., join DCC for inflatables, food, a petting zoo, games, activities and an Easter egg hunt for over 15,000 eggs! The whole family is invited to this free event. Located at 20820 W. Newberry Rd.
L&M Smith’s Cares for All, Inc Easter Egg Hunt
L&M Smith’s Cares for All, Inc. Is sponsoring an egg hunt for kids in preschool through 12th grade, for free, with prizes in a $1 raffle giveaway. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., come to 19107 NW 240 St. in High Springs to join the festivities.Â
Williston Easter Egg Hunt
From noon to 1 p.m. at Williston Horseman’s Park (1610 SW 8th Terr.), the city is holding its inaugural eff hunt! This event is free for all families, during the Spring Outdoor Market, which will bring over 130 shopping vendors, food trucks, live music & more. There will also be an Easter photo backdrop available.Â
Melrose United Methodist Church Easter Egg Hunt Â
1-4 p.m.
Melrose United Methodist Church is hosting its first Easter egg hunt with Kona Ice, a bounce house, games, crafts and more. The event starts at 1 p.m. and the egg hunt starts at 3 p.m. Located at 5807 Hampton St.
Deeper Purpose Community Church Epic Easter Egg Hunt & Spring Fest
Be sure to bring an Easter bag or bucket for eggs if you come to the largest small-town Easter Egg Hunt in North Central Florida, which grows every year. This is a free event with music, food trucks, vendors, prizes, giveaways, photos with the Easter bunny, egg hunts, hayrides, train rides and more from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Deeper Purpose Community Complex (16779 NW, Hwy 441).Â
Easter at Alive
On Saturday, March 30 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 31 at 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12:30 p.m., Alive Church (5805 NW 37th St., Gainesville) has a lineup of activities including bounce houses, egg hunts, food trucks, photo booths and more, combined with worship services.Â
Sunday, March 31
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Easter Sunrise Service
This tradition began more than 20 years ago and brings hundreds of community members together at the North Florida Duck Pond (6500 W. Newberry Rd., Gainesville). Scott Whitaker of Impact for Living will deliver a non-denominational message of peace, hope and joy at 7 a.m. The free event also includes live music, shuttle services and refreshments. Â
Abiding Savior Lutheran Church Easter Egg Hunt
9:15-11 a.m.
Following the 8 a.m. church service, Abiding Savior will host its annual Easter egg hunt and breakfast for $5. Located at 9700 W. Newberry Rd. in Gainesville
Easter Breakfast, Bonnet Parade, and Easter Egg Hunt
This Easter morning celebration starts at 9 a.m. at Trinity Metropolitan Community Church of Gainesville (11604 SW Archer Rd.) with a breakfast, then invites guests to on their best Easter bonnet and join a colorful parade. There will also be an Easter egg hunt.Â
Trinity’s Day Spa Eggstravagant Spa Party
Spring into Easter with Trinity’s Day Spa and Teddy Bear Mobile for an Eggstravagant Spa Party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $50 event includes a mani or pedi, create-your-own stuffed bear to take home, Easter/spring themed sparkling hair fairies, lemonade or water served in a champagne flute glass, Easter basket with goodies, DIY activity, coloring book and Easter egg hunt.  Located at 2441 NW 43rd St., Ste. 11B in Gainesville.
Homestead Park: Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch
11:30 a.m. at Homestead Park Williston, 1050 NE 6th Blvd.
The free Easter egg hunt starts at 11:30 am sharp, and runs until all eggs are found! Kids are limited to 10 eggs each.