KIDS EASTER EVENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
If you’re looking for fun kids Easter Events in Orange County for the entire family to join in…. look no further. Below you will find a list provided by our readers of local Orange County Easter activities for kids of all ages. If you know of one that isn’t listed, please let us know, and we will add it. We hope you can attend one or more of these kids Easter events in Orange County and have a wonderful time while you’re there. And don’t forget to tell the organizers you found them on My Local OC. We don’t get compensated for these lists, and we don’t expect to. But a “shout out” would be great. This is just one more way that we @ My Local OC serve those who live, work, and play in Orange County. See You Around the OC and Happy Easter from the team @ My Local OC.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE EASTER EGG HUNT
Eggs have long been viewed as symbols of spring and new life. Early Christians embodied this belief and expanded it to signify the resurrection and the empty tomb (or shell in this case) as a metaphor for Jesus’ tomb.
During mid-evil times, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. On Easter Sunday the withholding of eggs ended with feasting and merriment, and eggs were considered an important part of these celebrations. This was especially true for poorer people who couldn’t afford meat. Eggs were also given to the church as Good Friday offerings, and villagers often gave eggs as gifts to the lord of the manor at Easter. Royals got involved with this tradition too – in 1290 Edward I purchased 450-eggs to be decorated with colors or gold leaf and then distributed to his household.
The custom of the Easter egg hunt seems to originate from Germany; some say as early as the 16th century. It is said that Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer organized the egg hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for the women and children to find. This was in recognition that it was women who discovered the empty tomb.
QUEEN VICTORIA MAY HAVE POPULARIZED THE EGG HUNT
Victoria, the future Queen of England, was said to have enjoyed Easter egg hunts at Kensington Palace. The events were put on by her mother, the German-born Duchess of Kent. On Sunday April 7, 1833, the 14-year-old Princess Victoria wrote in her diary: “Mama did some pretty painted & ornamented eggs, & we looked for them.”
Victoria and Albert continued this German tradition, hiding eggs for their own children to find on Maundy Thursday. Albert was responsible for hiding the eggs, concealing them in ‘little moss baskets’ and hiding them around the palace. Victoria made numerous references to these egg hunts in her journals, including in 1869 when she wrote: “After breakfast, the children, as usual on this day looked for Easter eggs.”
THE MODERN-DAY EASTER EGG HUNT
The custom of coloring, hiding, and finding eggs during Easter became part of mainstream England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As the middle class began to expand, and people began to have a bit more money to spend on their families, the tradition expanded from a primarily religious celebration to be enjoyed at church festivities, to one centered more around the home. According to some sources, the tradition of the Easter egg hunt came to America with our German ancestors as they migrated to the United States around the 1700’s.
KIDS EASTER EVENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
At the time of this posting, these events are scheduled. Please check before attending.
Anaheim March 30 Easter Egg Hunt @ Ronald Reagan Park 945 South Weir Canyon Road Website
Buena Park March 30 Spring Eggstravaganza @ Boisseranc Park 7520 Dale St. Website
Costa Mesa March 23 Costa Mesa Community Egg Hunt & Party @ Estancia Park 1900 Adams Avenue Website
Costa Mesa March 30 Kids Imagine Nation ~ Springfest (Pirate Treasure Egg Hunt) @ Lions Park 570 W 18th St Website
Dana Point March 30 City of Dana Point Egg Hunts (2 LOCATIONS!) Pines Park: 34942 Camino Capistrano, Sea Canyon Park: 33093 Santiago Drive Website
Fullerton March 16 Easter Bunny Pictures & Easter Egg Hunt 707 S Euclid St Website
Fullerton March 30 2024 Spring Eggstravaganza @ Pacific Drive Park 222 S Pacific Drive Website
Garden Grove March 30 Eggscavation @ Atlantis Play Center 13630 Atlantis Way Purchase tickets online Website
Huntington Beach March 23 Easter Egg Hunt With Pets 16389 Bolsa Chica St Website
Huntington Beach March 30 EASTER Eggstravaganza: A Hunt for Fun! @ GERMAN SCHOOL campus 7561 Center Ave $10 tickets online Website
Irvine March 23 Egg Hunt for Kids with Special Needs @ Jeffrey Trail Middle School 155 Visions Website
Irvine March 31 Easter Egg Hunt @ University United Methodist Church 18422 Culver Website
Laguna Niguel March 23 Bunny Bonanza 25191 Chapparosa Park Rd. Website
Laguna Woods March 30 Equestrian Center Egg-stravaganza Parking off Via Campo Verde Website
La Habra March 30 Spring Family Eggstravaganza @ The Community Center 101 W. La Habra Blvd Website
Newport Beach March 23 Beyond Blindness Beeper Egg Hunt 1131 Back Bay Dr Website
Newport Beach March 23 9th Annual: Mayor’s Egg Race @ Civic Center Park 100 Civic Center Drive Website
Orange March 30 Easter Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast @ First Christian Church-Orange 1130 East Walnut Avenue Website
San Clemente March 30 Sensational Springtacular @ Vista Hermosa Sports Park 987 Avenida Vista Hermosa Purchase Tickets Website
Santa Ana March 30 EGG-Cellent Adventure @ Centennial Park 3000 W. Edinger Avenue Website
Stanton March 30 Stanton Easter Egg Hunt 10660 Western Ave Website
Tustin March 30 Easter Egg Hunt @ Tustin Sports Park 12850 Robinson Drive Website
Tustin March 30 Easter Egg Hunt @ Peppertree Park 230 W 1st St, Website
***We do our best to make sure all information is accurate.
However, we are not responsible for errors and/or omissions.
Written by: Patricia Braun – Publisher My Local OC
Research: Tina McNamara – Marketing Assistant My Local OC
