Easter Egg Hunt Archives - Monterey Bay Parent

It’s time for the annual tradition of hunting for Easter Eggs. Here are a variety of 2026 events scheduled for the Central Coast.

Be sure to check back often as we update and add events as they are announced.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

THE GREAT HELICOPTER EASTER EGG DROP

Rabobank Stadium, Salinas
9:30 AM and 12:00 PM
100,000 eggs, a sky diving Easter Bunny, and a helicopter dropping eggs. Bounce houses, photos with the Easter Bunny, giant egg hunt and more. Preregistration required.

BUNNY HOP PHOTO OP + EGGStra Fun!

Colton Hall, Monterey
Monterey Recreation is excited to announce the 6th Annual Bunny Hop Photo Op. There will be plenty of EGGStra Fun!, Spring plush animals and our favorite bunny friend will be here if you would like to take your own picture. Plus we have face painting, the MyMuseum Wheelie Mobilee and more. Note: this is not an egg hunt and you must preregister.

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

Del Monte Center, Monterey
11:00 AM-2 PM
Enjoy free photos with the Easter Bunny and capture the perfect springtime memory in the Garden Courtyard located in front of the GAP. The celebration also features a mesmerizing soap bubble artist, creative arts & crafts, and fun-filled balloon twisters for the kids. Bring your family, invite your friends, and hop on over for an egg-stra special day of springtime magic.

KINDNESS ROCKS SPRING EGG HUNT

Laguna Grande Park, Seaside
11 AM-4 PM
Bring the kids, bring the baskets, and get ready for a day full of eggs, smiles, and community love. Expect lots of fun, laughter, and springtime magic you won’t want to miss!

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

CYPRESS CHURCH EGG HUNT

681 Monterey Salinas Highway, Monterey
12:00-1:00 PPM
Over 5,000 eggs plus a family lunch after the egg hunt.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

BREAKFAST WITH THE BUNNY

Devendorf Park, Carmel
8:30 AM
The event is a pre-Easter celebration that includes a pancake breakfast and activities for kids, games and other fun holiday-inspired activities for adults and children, alike. This event is not an Easter Egg Hunt.

SPRINGTIME FAMILY FUN

Rocky Han Community Center, Marina
9:00 – 11 AM
Free pancake breakfast, crafts, bunny march, and more. Don’t miss the Egg Hunt at 10:30am on the playground by the Community Center.

KING CITY LIONS EASTER EGG HUNT

Salinas Valley Fairgrounds, King City
9:00 AM – 12 PM
This fun, free community event is a King City tradition. Hunt for Easter eggs on the grounds of the Salinas Valley Fair. Designated areas for toddlers, kinder age and elementary school children will allow even the youngest child to experience the joy of finding hidden treats. Peter Rabbit has hidden a few special eggs which can be redeemed for prizes sponsored by the King City Lions Club!

DOWNTOWN SALINAS BUSINESS HOP

Oldtown Salinas
11 AM-2 PM
Families can hop into Downtown Salinas, explore the treasures in local shops and get treats from local businesses.

EASTER ON THE FARM

Santa Cruz Fairgrounds
11:00 AM-3 PM
The Agricultural History Project is hosting their annual Easter on the Farm to celebrate Easter and the beginning of Spring. Activities for children and adults include arts & crafts, hayrides, tractor driving, face painting, meeting a real bunny and enjoying a photo op with the Easter Bunny.

EGG HUNT EGGSTRAVAGANZA

French Park, Watsonville
11 AM- 4 PM
Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza is a family-friendly event filled with arts & crafts, games, food trucks, an egg hunt, and more! Kids ages 3 to 13 years old are invited to participate in the egg hunt. Registration is not required for this event.
Please bring your own basket (or container) for the egg hunt.

GOLDEN EGG HUNT

11:00 AM-1 PM
Oldemeyer Center, Seaside
Free activities including face painting, carnival games, crafts, jump house, petting zoo, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Low sensory room for children with special needs.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 & SUNDAY, APRIL 5

ROARING CAMP BUNNY TRAIN

The Easter Bunny makes a stop at Roaring Camp. Hop aboard the Redwood Forest Steam Train to Bear Mountain for an Easter Egg Hunt and participate in other activities.

SUNDAY, APRIL 5

EASTER ON THE WHARF

Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey
10 AM-10 PM
Meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy photo opps, and other Easter activities on the wharf. Check website for entertainment and appearance info.

Easter was always an exciting holiday when I was growing up. I would spend the night with my grandparents the night before Easter, and I could SWEAR I heard the Easter Bunny scooting across the floor in the night. Upon waking I’d bolt out of bed to see what candy and other treats I’d been brought, then we’d head to church for Easter services and a massive egg hunt. My day would end in a sugar coma on the couch, watching “The Wizard of Oz” with my parents. Below are 8 ideas for Easter traditions you can try with your own kids. Pick and choose a few of them each year … and stick with the ones your family loves!

1. TREATS. Dying and decorating hardboiled eggs is a classic, but you could also make something out of the ordinary like Jello eggs or egg-shaped sugar cookies. Last year my husband and kids made Rice Krispy eggs dipped in melted chocolate chips, then they added sprinkles before the chocolate set.

2. SHARING. Kids enjoy sharing with others … and being sneaky! When dark hits the night before Easter, sneak over to a favorite neighbor (or drive to a close-by friend’s) and scatter eggs in their front yard. You can mix and match hard-boiled and plastic eggs. Fill plastic eggs with candy, coins, tattoos, stickers, erasers, etc. Even though doing an anonymous fun thing is great, you should probably leave a note or card on their door so they know who put all that fun stuff in their yard.

3. BUNNIES & CHICKS. Bunnies and chicks are the unofficial mascots of Easter, so find a place where your child can pet some! Bunnies and chicks can be found at kid-friendly farms, pet stores and zoos. Some stores have promotional days where you can come in and pet and hold these little sweeties and take pictures.

4. EASTER BUNNY PHOTOS. Get your child’s picture taken with the Easter bunny. Both Del Monte Center and Northridge have an Easter Bunny in residence. Bass Pro Shops in San Jose traditionally offers free Easter Bunny photos. The schedule hadn’t been released as of press time.

5. EASTER BASKETS. Easter baskets for the kids are a given, but they don’t have to be over-the-top. You can buy a simple empty basket at a craft store and fill it with things like Peeps, toys, small books, plastic eggs filled with candy, etc. If you have time but are short on money, bake treats to put in the baskets, make a special card for your child or write out coupons for things like getting out of chores or an ice cream cone out with just Mom. Don’t forget about your older kids on Easter … everyone can appreciate an Easter basket!

6. EASTER EGG HUNT. An Easter egg hunt can be held just about anywhere. My church doesn’t hold an Easter egg hunt, so we have one in my mom’s yard after church on Easter Sunday. Our family all pitches in and hides plastic eggs filled with candy, sugarless gum, dollar bills and more. You could also hide eggs the night before in your own yard (or even around the house!) after your kids go to sleep so they can have an after-breakfast hunt at their own home! Check our sidebar for local Easter Eggs hunts.

7. A SPECIAL MEAL. Get together with family for a special meal. If you won’t be able to be with family this Easter, invite some friends and neighbors over for a potluck meal at your place. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant … a ready-made ham, paper plates, and plastic cutlery just mean less time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones.

8. DOWN TIME. End the day relaxing with a bowl of Easter candy, some popcorn and a movie the whole family can enjoy. After a fun day celebrating Easter in all the ways you love, end your family day with some “hanging out” time. Nobody is allowed to text or play handheld video games or email. This is a time to snuggle up and reflect on the gift of family and friends.

Kerrie McLoughlin is the proud and happy mom of five. Check out their adventures at thekerrieshow.com.

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