7 festive events to check out this Easter

Scna Easter50
Photo by Joan Cusick
On April 4, families can rise and join the Egg Hunt and Pajama Parade from William Land Park to Sierra 2 Center in Curtis Park.

With Easter rolling in, it’s time to dig into a basket full of egg hunts and other festivities we’ve picked up in and around town. From an epic egg hunt where trolls and goblins lurk to visiting the Easter Bunny aboard a train or river cruise, here are 10 Easter celebrations to hop to this holiday.

Easter Egg Express
March 28–April 5
All aboard for this trip through West Sacramento—a three-hour train ride (which runs through two weekends and the week in between) where parents and children can decorate bags while listening to an on-board reading of the storybook Sierra’s Easter Train Adventure (which select ticket holders can also take home), written and illustrated by Davis-based author Shelle Hart. The train will make a stop at Elkhorn Park, where the Easter Bunny will greet families and guide youngsters through their an egg hunt or escort them to a special area of the park where they can trade in their found eggs for one special egg containing a small toy. $29-$59. 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. 400 N. Harbor Blvd. West Sacramento. 800-866-1690. sacramentorivertrain.com

28th Annual Pancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt
April 4
When not getting full on the unlimited pancake breakfast (complete with sausage, fruit and juice), families can exit the barn buffet and work off the calories by taking part in a park-wide egg hunt or participating in carnival festivities such as a fishing derby, bean bag tosses and face painting. $6 per adult; $4 per child. 7–11:30 a.m. Clunie Community Center. 601 Alhambra Blvd. 761-0984. eastsacmidtownkiwanis.com

Egg-O-Rama
April 4
Save the Easter Bunny from evil at this spring carnival’s unique Bunny Battle Egg Hunt, where kids wield foam swords and fend off trolls and goblins in order to win back eggs that were stolen from the beloved holiday rabbit. When not munching on pancakes and sausage at the event breakfast or taking a selfie with the Easter Bunny himself, families can enjoy carnival festivities such as a bounce house, Easter-themed mini-golf, a troll toss (where guests can knock down toy trolls with bean bags) and pluck-a-duck (where attendees can pluck ducks from a trough, each with a prize attached to it). $4. 8 a.m.-noon. Howe Park. 2201 Cottage Way. 927-3802. fecrecpark.com

Spring Eggstravaganza
April 4-5
At this annual spring party, youngsters can hunt for hundreds of hidden Easter eggs, hop down the bunny trail to meet Peter Cottontail and get their hands on spring-themed crafts like making bunny ears out of paper. For an extra-special experience, guests can make their way to the Children’s Theater for Tales of Br’er Rabbit, which will be performed by the Magical Moonshine Theater using puppets and a banjo, and tells the tale of a mischievous, tall-eared Br’er Rabbit that outsmarts other forest dwellers like Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear.. $5.50 ($1-$2 extra for show admission). 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fairytale Town. 3901 Land Park Dr. 808-7462. fairytaletown.org

Egg Hunt and Pajama Parade
April 4
Hop out of bed and join this celebration’s Pajama Parade, marching from William Curtis Park to the Sierra 2 Center, where parents and children can take part in Easter Bunny-related crafts, such as face painting, making bunny ears, decorating Easter bags, taking pictures with the Easter Bunny or searching for eggs scattered across the park. Free. 9:30-11 a.m. William Land Park. 3800 Landpark Dr. 452-3005. sierra2.org

Kids Easter Celebration
April 4
Honor the spiritual side of the holiday with an Easter video screened at the Sunrise Community Church’s worship center in Fair Oaks, and celebrate the festive side with bounce houses, Easter egg hunts, face painting and bites from Frenchy’s Waffles food truck. Free. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Sunrise Community Church. 8321 Greenback Ln. Fair Oaks. 726-4642. scconline.cc

Easter River Cruise
April 5
Coast along Sacramento’s historic waterway and enjoy the city’s scenic views on this river cruise providing on-board entertainment such as tidbits about Sacramento River's history narrated by the ship’s captain, Easter-themed coloring sheets for creative youngsters and a visit from the Easter Bunny, who will be roaming about the deck. Eats and drinks provided by Fat’s Catering will also be provided as guests take in the river’s beauty and wildlife. $20. 12-3 p.m. Old Sacramento L Street Dock. 1206 Front St. 916-446-1185. hornblower.com

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