Easter 2021: Egg Hunts, Services And Meals In And Near Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL — Easter celebrations across the country and in the Bradenton area will look different from ever before in 2021 as traditional events such as egg hunts, religious services and restaurant deals will go on virtually as well as in person.

In Bradenton, there are numerous egg hunts and Easter Bunny meet-and-greets taking place in person for the little ones. Several local restaurants have created special holiday menus for Easter Sunday.

Upcoming family-friendly events include:

• Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, Sunday, March 28, noon to 3 p.m., at Harvest United Methodist Church, 14305 Covenant Way, Bradenton. This is a driving scavenger hunt that can be enjoyed safely from your car. Register online here.
• Spring Picnic and Egg Hunt, Sunday, March 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at RiverLife Church, 1012 57th Street E. in Bradenton. This event includes a barbecue lunch and an outdoor service. Learn more online here.
• Easter Bunny visits at DeSoto Square Mall, 303 301 Blvd. W. in Bradenton. The Easter Bunny will be available through April 4.
• First Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Southern Magnolia Acres, 4315 89th Street E in Palmetto. Learn more here.
• Visit with the Easter Bunny, Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Gamble Creek Farms, 14950 Golf Course Road in Parrish. Learn more online here.

Enjoy a special Easter Sunday menu at these local restaurants:

• Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, 101 Riverfront Blvd., Bradenton. Check out the menu here.
• Pier 22, 1200 1st Ave. W., Bradenton. Serving Easter brunch and dinner. Learn more here.
• Bradenton Yacht Club, 4307 13th Street W., Palmetto. Serving Easter brunch. Find the menu here.

Mostly religious services went virtual during the Easter season last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was still fairly new and most states remained under strict shutdown orders in mid-April. This year, there’s more of a combination of virtual and in-person services taking place with the pandemic having passed the one-year mark.

Here are some religious services planned in the Bradenton area:

• RiverLife Church, 1012 57th Street E. in Bradenton. Easter Sunday Service, Sunday, April 4, 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Learn more here.
• Bayside Community Church, 15800 SR-64 in Bradenton. Easter Sunday services on April 4 are scheduled for 7, 8:15, 9:45 and 11:45 a.m. Reserve a seat at the service of your choice here.
• Hope Lutheran Church, 4635 26th Street W., Bradenton. Sunday, April 4, 10:30 a.m.
• Shoreline Calvary Chapel, 4908 Lena Road, Bradenton. Resurrection Sunday service, Sunday, April 4, 10 a.m. Learn more here.
• Life Covenant Sanctuary, 5428 39th Street E., Bradenton. Easter Sunday service, Sunday, April 4, 10 a.m.

Many major American archdioceses, such as in Chicago, will continue to hold virtual services that will be streamed throughout Holy Week, which includes the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays leading up to Easter.

Good Friday, on April 2 this year, marks the death of Jesus Christ. Easter, two days later, celebrates the time when he was resurrected. The Sunday holiday always occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Religious traditions on Good Friday include periods of silence and fasting for many Christians, prominently in the Catholic faith.

Fairfax United Methodist Church in Virginia is also streaming its Holy Week services, with an in-person service offered to a limited number of attendees on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.

Many Protestant churches will have their traditional sunrise services with social distancing in mind. The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is having its services on Easter morning, while the Colorado Council of Churches canceled its service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and instead will have Bishop Kym Lucas of the Episcopal Church in Colorado lead a virtual service.

One of the most celebrated Easter traditions outside of church is the Easter egg hunt, many of which were canceled last year but will return in some form in 2021. In La Grange, Kentucky, an egg hunt is planned in conjunction with a drive-in theater and movie; and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, already held its egg hunt over two sessions, with early sign-ups required.

Want to add a family-friendly event, Easter meal or religious services to the list? Email Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.