As the crispness in the air dissipates and the days get longer, spring arrives and Peter Cottontail along with it. A special occasion filled with plenty of joy and sweets for many, there is no shortage of family fun to be had this Easter in Durham Region! Eggs-plore some of the incredible local businesses as you create memories that will last a lifetime.
Meet the Easter Bunny
Let’s hop to it with a springtime meet and greet! He might be a busy little hare but the Easter Bunny ensures he spends some quality time with kids big and small across the region. Bring your best smile, strike a pose and snap a photo with this springtime celebrity!
You can meet the Easter Bunny at Pingle’s Farm in Hampton on March 23rd and 24th as well as March 29th to 31st during their sp-egg-tacular Easter Egg Hunt. Head to Brooks Farm Easter Fest in Mount Albert to say hello from March 23rd and 24th along with March 29th to April 1st. The Easter Bunny will also be checking out the incredible crafting skills of the Easter Bonnet Contest in Port Perry on March 31st.
You can also catch this iconic hare at the Pickering Easter Parade held in partnership with Royal Canadian Legion Branch 606 on March 30th. He’ll be strutting his stuff around town as there’s a brand new parade route for 2024!
Indulge in Easter Chocolate And Treats
Everyone knows that Easter and chocolate go hand-in-hand (or shall we say paw-in-paw?) so naturally, a trip to a local sweets shop is in order! Whether you’re a chocoholic or looking for a unique Easter-themed treat, you’ll find a plethora of options here in Durham Region.
A staple of Port Perry for over three decades, you will find only the richest Belgian chocolates and truffles at The Nutty Chocolatier. Founder Ken Koury and his team go all out as you’ll find everything from marshmallow eggs to chocolate lambs and your classic chocolate bunnies in every shape and size! They also have numerous no sugar added chocolates alongside other novelties so those on a restricted diet can also enjoy some Easter sweets!
Williams Chocolate in Whitby has been sharing their sweet treats with the region since 1985. Started with the European secrets of master chocolatier Willem Helema, he has since passed on these tricks of the trade to his children John and Angie who will craft your tasty Easter treats! You’ll find no shortage of Chocolate bunnies and chicks as well as a variety of unique sweets like their chocolate-covered orange peels and chocolate-covered ginger.
Looking for something a little different this Easter? Head to Sweetie Bear in Ajax where you’ll find a wide variety of Asian sweets and snacks from Japan, Korea, China and more. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere that has the range of Pocky flavours that Sweetie Bear has, not to mention all of the adorable chocolates, cakes and mochi!
For families with dietary restrictions, Fine Chocolates by B offers an abundance of plant-based and gluten-free goodies for pick up across Durham Region. Owner and sweet treat specialist, Bianca, crafts an assortment of gorgeous spring-themed chocolates including her Rocky Road Easter Egg Bonbon which is guaranteed to be a hit this Easter!
Easter Brunch in Durham Region
While chocolate may be the main food group for Easter, those who are looking for something a little more substantial won’t want to miss enjoying Easter brunch in Durham Region!
Pingle’s Farm pulls out all the stops with their Easter Bunny Brunch on March 24th, 25th, 29th, 30th and 31st. Step inside the Pingle’s Greenhouse for an eggs-traordinary feast to celebrate the beginning of spring! Adults will enjoy the Big Bunny Brunch of scrambled eggs, bacon and hashbrowns alongside bottomless coffee. The little ones will love their bunny waffles complete with bacon bunny ears, apple whiskers, blueberry eyes and an adorable raspberry nose. Of course, a visit to Pingle’s wouldn’t be complete without some of their apple cider doughnuts to round out your meal! Plus you’ll have a table-side visit from the Easter Bunny himself AND entry into their Sp-EGG-tacular Easter Egg Hunt!
You can also enjoy Easter Brunch for a great cause with the Optimist Club of Oshawa! Enjoy all the pancakes you can eat along with coffee, tea and juice on March 30th. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around to deliver special goodies to all the children who attend. It’s bound to be an egg-cellent time that you won’t want to miss!
Get Crafty
Decorating eggs is a spring tradition many of us continue to enjoy year after year. However, that’s not the only way to get crafty this Easter!
Kids of all ages can show off their colouring skills by decorating their very own Easter Hunt bag at Brooks Farm Easter Fest. It has the important task of collecting all your treats so make it unique! We think the brighter, the better though the most important part is to adorn your bag however you see fit!
At the Easter Bonnet Contest in Port Perry, there is an abundance of talent to be found as folks of all ages compete for best in show. With a variety of categories including Easter Spirit, Best Bloomin’ and Most Delicious, not to mention an award for ‘Best Pet in a Bonnet’ for an extra dose of cuteness!
See Some Baby Animals
Springtime is synonymous with new life and it doesn’t get any cuter than baby animals! Who can resist the little chicks and baby lambs as they scurry about?
Say hello to the farm-ily of animals at Pingle’s Farm during their Easter Egg Hunt! You can’t help but have a big smile on your face as a farmyard of bunnies, chickens, ducks, goats and sheep greet you. Let’s not forget Zelda the Zebu and her two friends who are all a unique breed of cattle! You can learn more about these three zebu here.
Brooks Farm has a variety of critters you can visit as well. Chickens, ducks and geese will be fluttering about alongside some rabbits, pot pelly pigs and miniature cows. Though chances are Norman the Farm Dog will steal the show as he’s always out greeting visitors!
Hunt for Easter Eggs
No Easter egg-stravaganza is complete without searching for some Easter eggs! Let the little ones roam as they hunt for these colourful little treats.
Once the Easter Bonnet Contest in Port Perry is completed, the fantastic egg hunt begins! Kids ages 3-7 will be keeping their eyes peeled for eggs with their age on it. After you’ve snagged an egg, take it over to the prize checks to see what goodies you’ll be taking home! Every hunter will enjoy a delicious goodie bag from The Nutty Chocolatier though some will be egg-stra lucky with a special surprise! Not to mention all the fun things to do in Port Perry and the surrounding area afterwards!
Over at Pingle’s Farm, their Easter Egg Hunt will put some spring in your step. Head to their playland to begin your sp-egg-tacular adventures as the Easter Bunny needs your help! You’ll be given special instructions for your egg hunt put together by the main rabbit himself. Your efforts will not go unnoticed as you’ll be rewarded with a special treat for all your hard work! Then you can rest with an wagon ride around the farmyard while listening to an Easter-themed story.
Hop to the town of Uxbridge where the BIA will be hosting their Uxbridge Easter Eggstravaganza! From 11:00 am until 2:00 pm on March 30th, kids up to 12 years of age are invited to pop into storefronts along Toronto and Brock Streets as they seek out Easter treats. With additional activities and events, downtown will be the place to be this Easter in Uxbridge!
Lastly, there will be plenty of eggs to be found as Playdium in Whitby hosts their Easter Egg Hunt on March 30th. Scour the rooms upon rooms of games as you seek out colourful treats hiding in unexpected places. Make sure you wear your complimentary bunny ears as we hear that helps with your egg finding capabilities! Bring your phone is charged as there will be plenty of photo opportunities as you make plenty of Easter memories with the whole family.
As you can see, there is no shortage of fun for the whole family this Easter in Durham! Colour us egg-cited for the holiday and we hope you have an egg-ceptional Easter with these great events across the region.
