Updated for 2022!
Spring brings rain, but it also brings a sense of renewal. Many rites of spring celebrate traditions created hundreds of years ago. Whether you visit with the Easter Bunny on a train ride, slide down the bunny hole or check out some very cool egg hunts, Easter offers wonderful opportunities to continue AND start new family traditions. There is something fun and exciting for everyone this Easter!
At Mommy University, we love finding holiday events that not only possess true holiday spirit, but also offer ways for kids to play, learn and grow. This season, we are sharing a list of amazing Easter events that also inspire learning. We have broken the list down into categories: museums, zoos, trains, farms, beaches and unique experiences. We will be updating this list as more events become available so keep checking back for more Easter fun!
2022 Family Fun Easter Events in NJ
Zoos
EGGstravaganza at Bergen County Zoo: Visit the Bergen County Zoo on April 9 for some Easter family fun. Guests will enjoy a day filled with fun, learning, and chocolate!
EGGstravaganZOO at Cape May County Zoo: On April 9, 10am-2pm, families can enjoy a fun and FREE Easter event at the Cape May County Zoo. The event includes educational displays, a scavenger hunt, live animal encounters and crafts. There will also be an egg hunt!
Museums
Brunch with the Bunny: Head over to the Garden State Discovery Museum for a fun brunch provided by Silver Diner. Have your cameras ready for a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny too. When you’re done, have fun exploring the museum! *Currently closed.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt: The Liberty Hall Museum will host an incredible Easter Egg Hunt on April 16 at 10am and 12pm! There will also be a surprise visit from the Easter Bunny! Afterwards, visit this historic museum that teaches us about American history.
Trains
Image Source: Whippany Railway Museum
Delaware River Railroad Excursions: Ride the Easter Bunny Train Ride and visit with the Bunny. Your ride will wind along the scenic Delaware River leaving from Phillipsburg. The destination will be the site of the historic Lime Kilns. Near the Lime Kilns is a beautiful little glade filled with Easter Eggs where each child selects four eggs. Read our review here!
Easter Bunny Express at Whippany Railway: Join the Easter Bunny and train crew for a fun train ride through northern New Jersey! The Easter Bunny will greet everyone during the 45-minute round trip train ride.
Black River and Western Railroad: The Easter Bunny Express is a laid-back round-trip ride from Flemington to Ringoes and return. On board the train Peter Cottontail will visit each child, posing for photographs upon request. Each child receives a small candy treat. Your train ride is about 25 minutes from Flemington to Ringoes, followed by a 10-15 minute stop at Ringoes. During the layover you may use the restrooms, browse the gift shop, and visit the museum car. You will then re-board your train for the return trip to Flemington.
Click on the image below for more details!
Farms
The Garden State is filled with Easter Fun on the Farm! Click on the image below for a complete list of fun Easter and springtime events at a farm near you.
Beaches
Easter Egg Hunt at Belmar: A fun Easter Egg Hunt will take place at Belmar Beach on April 2 at 11am. There will be over 2500 eggs placed in the sand for children to find. There will be one golden egg in each age group that includes a ticket for a special prize. The Easter Bunny will also stop by for the fun!
Easter Egg Hunt: On April 10, Seaside Heights Beach families can enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt on the beach. Girls and boys up to 10 years of old can help the Easter Bunny find lost eggs. In the past, kids earned prizes like FREE ride tickets, skeeball games and food. There were also golden eggs with seasonal beach badges in them from the Borough of Seaside Heights. This event is FREE!
Easter Egg Hunt on the Boardwalk: On April 10 at 1pm, Families can enjoy a fun Easter Egg Hunt on Jenkinson’s Boardwalk. Children, ages 10 and under, will not need digging equipment but will be limited to three eggs each. While there, why not head over and explore the aquarium for some brain boosting fun with family and friends?! There will also be a special needs/accessible egg hunt at the Adventure Lookout Ropes Course.
The Great Egg Hunt: On April 9 and 16, head down to Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City for an exciting Easter egg hunt. This will be a trick or treat style egg hunt with various stores on the boardwalk participating.
Nature Centers
Spring Forest Egg Hunt: On April 2 9:30am-1pm, Essex County Environmental Center is hosting this unique Egg Hunt which starts with a self-guided story walk. Then there will be an egg hunt at ECEC forest grounds. Children will be encouraged to turn in eggs for special prizes. The cost is $15 and advanced registration is required for this event.
Camouflaged Egg Hunt: Enjoy a unique egg hunt experience as you explore the Tenafly Nature Center to find naturally dyed Easter eggs in camouflage colors. Date to be announced soon.
Unique Locations
Easter Egg Hunt at Diggerland: Families will love digging into this Easter Egg Hunt at Diggerland. There will be one giant egg hunt with over 4,000 eggs hidden throughout the park. You can collect as many regular eggs but you can only keep one golden egg (there are over 20 golden eggs!). If you’re lucky enough to find a golden egg, bring the contents to our retail store and they will give you your Grand Prize! Date to be announced soon.
Easter Weekend at Storybook Land: In April, families can enjoy visit the Easter Bunny while also exploring Storybook Land. You can also enjoy the Bunny Trail where kids can hunt for treasure. These events are included with admission. Dates to be announced soon.
Hoboken Grace Community Church Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Hoboken Grace Community Church’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on April 9. There will be two hunts with over 33,000 eggs. Children can also enjoy free face painting, music, games, crafts, and pictures with the Easter Bunny.
Sonny the Bunny Colossal Carrot Adventure: Head over to iPlay America to hop along the bunny trail, collect Easter eggs, enjoy breakfast with the Easter Bunny, play games and more! Date to be announced.
Colonial Easter Bunny at Historic Smithville: Visit Historic Smithville April 8, 9, 15, and 16 for a chance to see the strolling Easter Bunny. There will also be a parade on April 17.
19th Century East Celebration at the Historic Village of Allaire: On April 16 11am-4pm, families can explore this historic village while enjoying fun Easter activities like a scavenger hunt, egg dying, bonnet decorating, and more. Guests can also enjoy 19th century demonstrations and visit the historic buildings. Tickets are $8/person and must be purchased in advance.
Easter Bunny Fly By at Solberg Airport: The Easter Bunny flies into Solberg Airport to visit with children. Besides pictures with the famous bunny, there will also be airplane rides, static aircraft displays, walk-throughs of hot-air balloons, face-painting, sand-art, a cookout and much-much more. Gates open at 1:30-2:00pm. As always, admission is free so bring your family out and enjoy! Date to be announced soon!
Weekend Spring Bunny: While enjoying a day of shopping and dining at Palmer Square in Princeton, make sure to say hello to the Easter Bunny. He will be making the rounds on April 2, 3, 9, 10, and 16.
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Great Resource.
Thank you so much Barbara! I am glad you found it helpful:)
So many great events here! I don’t live in NJ, but might just have to pay a visit for one!
This egg hunt is great in Hoboken- (copied from their website- http://www.hobokenfamily.com
Spring Fling Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 19th, 2016
Please join us at our Spring Fling Egg Hunt.
This is our 18th year hosting this annual fun event.
Time: Saturday, March 19, 2016 (raindate March 20, 2016) 10 am-12 pm.
Location: Columbus Park, Clinton Street, between 9th & 10th Streets, Hoboken.
Cost: Free for HFA members; $5 suggested donation for non-members.
Activities include: A stroll through the Spring Farm Egg Hunt (Find eggs and turn them in for a bag of goodies!); Bunny-hop and egg races.
The egg hunts will be continuous, starting at 10 am, and children will trade their found (empty) eggs for a bag of goodies to take home, so that we can reuse and recycle the eggs for other participants.
Please note that groups of children of all ages will be able to enter the Spring Farm for 15-minute intervals and re-enter. The entrance time for the last egg hunt will be at 12pm. Plan to pose with bunnies and spring themed props, courtesy of Hoboken High School art department. Please bring your cameras and baskets!
This is such a thorough list of Easter events in your area! What a great idea to make your website a resource for local families.
Thank you so much Theresa! We do our best to give parents fun ways to learn with their kids while celebrating holidays:)
Great article! So many fun things to do with kids.