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

BROOKHAVEN, GA — Easter celebrations across the country and in Marietta 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 Brookhaven, the city and several local churches will be offering virtual and socially-distanced versions of the normal Easter events due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Brookhaven Bunny Trail Parade

The Easter bunny will be hoppin' down the Brookhaven Bunny Trail Parade this Saturday starting at 9 a.m., riding in the back of a new Brookhaven Parks & Recreation Department maintenance truck. Children of all ages are encouraged to cheer on Peter Rabbit from front yards and porches as he drives by.

“Even though we once again had to cancel all of our Easter egg hunts, we still wanted to find a way to spread Easter joy in a socially distant, safe manner,” said Brian Borden, Brookhaven parks & recreation director.

The Easter bunny will be flanked by a line of Brookhaven police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The blocked-off parade route will start at Lynwood Recreation Center and wind its way along city streets until reaching the Brookhaven Police Department offices on Buford Highway.

The full route can be viewed on the city's website.

Easter, Holy Week services

Brookhaven United Methodist Church, 1366 North Druid Hills Road NE

• Churchgoers can visit the church's website for its virtual Easter egg hunt. Eggs are hidden throughout the website pages, and when clicked, they feature a special treat.
• All church services are taking place virtually for the time being. Service begins at 11 a.m. Sunday and can be found on YouTube.

Brookhaven Christian Church, 4500 Peachtree Road NE

• Easter Sunday service:
  • April 4 at 10:45 a.m. for announcements, 11 a.m. for worship.
  • Livestreamed and in-person services are available.
  • To view the livestream, visit the church's website.
• Outdoor Easter Family Celebration
  • April 4 from 12:30-2 p.m.
  • The event takes place immediately following church services, featuring a live animal petting zoo, Easter egg scavenger hunt for children and youth up to high-school age and other Easter

Brookhaven Presbyterian Church, 1294 North Druid Hills Road NE

• Maundy Thursday and Good Friday:
  • April 1 and 2 at 6 p.m.
  • Services for both days begin in the church parking lot, and will be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page.
  • To view the songs and scriptures of the week, visit the website.
• Easter Sunday:
  • April 4 at 11 a.m.
  • Service will be outdoors in the church parking lot, and will be livestreamed on the church's Facebook page. An Easter brunch will take place immediately following the service.
  • To view the songs and scriptures of the week, visit the website.
  • If you plan to stay for brunch, visit this Google Form to RSVP by March 31.

St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church, 3110 Ashford Dunwoody Road

• Holy Week In One Hour on One Night:
  • March 31 from 6-7 p.m. and 7:30-8:30 p.m.
  • The family, youth and children event will take place outside on St. Martin's campus. Diocesan guidelines limit the service to 75 people, and masks are required. Guests must bring their own chairs.
  • Pre-registration required. Those interested in attending can register online.
• Maundy Thursday services:
  • April 1 from 7-8 p.m. for livestream via Facebook and YouTube, 8-9 p.m. for the in-person bonfire.
  • To register for the bonfire, visit the website.
• Good Friday services:
  • April 2 from 7-8 a.m. for livestreamed service; in-person service registration is closed.
  • Livestream will be available online for playback via Facebook and YouTube after the service.
• Holy Saturday service:
  • April 3 beginning at 7 a.m.
  • Livestream only. Services begin at 7 a.m. on YouTube and will be available to watch afterward.
• Easter Vigil service:
  • April 3 from 8-9 p.m.
  • In-person service will take place outdoors. Diocesan guidelines limit the service to 75 people, and masks are required. Guests must bring their own chairs.
  • Pre-registration is required. To register, visit the website.
• Easter Sunday services:
  • Livestreamed service will only take place from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Service will be livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube, and broadcast to the church parking lot on 88.7 FM radio.
  • In-person services: 8-9 a.m., 9:30-10:30 a.m., 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Pre-registration required. Visit the church's website to register for the different services.

With offerings like pan-seared sea bass, roasted lamb and frittatas as the centerpieces of assorted meals, you can't go wrong if you plan to dine in or take home an Easter Sunday meal. Here are a few places in Brookhaven that will be serving:

Petite Violette
2948 Clairmont Road
404-634-6268

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern
804 Town Blvd.
404-464-8971

Marlow's Tavern (brunch to-go)
3575 Durden Dr.
770-557-1649

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.

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.