By Shane Flug
Spring has sprung and the Easter Bunny is getting ready to deliver his baskets. Whether you’re looking for some family-friendly fun or just need an “egg-cellent” date idea, here are five ways to make the most of the Easter weekend (April 14 to 17) in Calgary. [Image credit: istockphoto.com/skodonnell]
You can’t go wrong with Easter egg hunts for family fun. The Calgary Evergreen Community Association will host its annual hunt on April 15, featuring hot chocolate, a Calgary Public Library book truck, and – of course – the Easter Bunny! Also on April 15, families can visit the North West Family Church’s egg hunt in Rocky Ridge and the Palliser Bayview Pump Hill Community Association’s Easter Eggstravaganza. Check your community newsletter for a hunt near you.
Downtown shoppers at the CORE should be on the lookout for eggs at participating merchants during their #COREeaster hunt happening until April 15. Follow Twitter and Instagram for clues and win vouchers for swag, store gift cards and more.
Puppies can fetch eggs, too! On Good Friday (April 14) National Service Dogs will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt for Dogs fundraiser at Calaway Park, where furry friends can sniff for eggs filled with Milk Bone treats. The more money you raise, the more eggs you can collect. Click here to register your dog.
Go see the animals at the Great Legendary Easter Hunt at Butterfield Acres Petting Zoos, where the little ones can hear the Legend of the Easter Bunny and check in with the farm’s animals after the egg hunt (check here for availability). Or kick off Canada’s 150th birthday with the Calgary Zoo’s Easter Eggstravaganza from April 14 to 15.
Want to get all the Easter dinner fixings in one place? The Calgary Farmers’ Market is open all Easter weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Grab some gluten-free charcuterie meats at Luc’s European Meats, a free range ham at Spragg’s Meat Shop, in-season veggies at the seasonal cart and a Master Chocolat bunny or some Jelly Modern Doughnuts for dessert! Bring the kids for cookie decorating and photos with the Easter Bunny on Friday and Saturday.
If you’re up for some sinful fun on Easter weekend, don't miss your last chance to check out Stage West Dinner Theatre’s Drinking Habits – rated five stars by the Calgary Herald – a comedy following two nuns secretly making wine to help pad their convent’s pocketbooks and two undercover reporters intent on spilling the operation onto the front page.
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More things to do this spring in Calgary:
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Want to dine and stretch? Commonwealth Bar & Stage will host their Hip Hop Yoga & Brunch April 15 (bring your own mat). Yogis will stretch to a soundtrack of ‘90s hip-hop greats including Biggie and Tupac. Get tickets online.
For the whole family, there are many Easter Sunday brunch options at Calgary’s hotel restaurants. Among a few: take a trip to the past at Heritage Park’s Wainwright Hotel, have the chef design your own omelet at Hotel Blackfoot, or make a day of it by heading to Fort Calgary and then explore Inglewood afterward. For those who spent the holiday weekend with friends, enjoy an eggs Benedict at the Ship & Anchor Pub or a bourbon cocktail and breakfast poutine at Brasserie Kensington.
For a full list of Easter brunches on the menu, check out our Smart List.
No matter how much or how little you observe the Easter holiday, these are just a few of the ways to spend the long weekend while meeting your neighbours and supporting local businesses. Just don’t forget to stock up on those addicting Mini Eggs at your nearby grocer.
