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

NEWTON, MA — Easter festivities screeched to a halt last year amid the pandemic. This year, things aren't quite back to "normal," but as mandates lift and organizers get creative, a slew of fun, family-friendly events are planned — virtual and in-person — to celebrate Easter, Passover and spring.

Here, NewCity Church is hosting a number of events leading up to Easter Sunday:

• April 2, - Good Friday Interactive Experience: Good Friday at the Newton Highlands Playground (Wooded Trails), starting at 6 p.m. a group will walk the trail as they talk about and imagine how Jesus walked carrying the cross to be crucified.
• April 3 - Easter Hunt at Home Kits: The church will deliver an Easter egg hunt to you with their Hunt at Home Easter Kits. Reserve your box, filled with eggs, crafts, ideas for an at home photoshoot and recipes.
• April 4 - Easter at NewCity Church: Interactive time of worship with NewCity Worship and a message from Pastor Devlin. 10:30 a.m. online.

At Sacred Heart and Our Lady's Collaborative, they are holding in-person services on Easter Sunday, but you have to reserve your seat ahead of time.

Corpus Christi St. Bernard Parish on Washington Street, you also have to reserve tickets for in-person ahead of time: They will be streaming their 10 a.m. service live.

The Newton Highlands Congregational Church will be holding two services, the sunrise service will be at 6:10 a.m. near Crystal Lake and then a Zoom worship service at 10 a.m.

Know of an event in Newton we should add? post it in the comment section below!

And a number of restaurants are hoping you will swing by to pick up some food to celebrate.

Check out dining options in Newton, courtesy the Newton Needham Regional Chamber.

Most 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 Boston, 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 falls 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 keeping the 6 foot 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 Lowell, an egg hunt is planned:Leominster United Methodist Church is asking folks sign up for 30 minute time slots for 10 kids, and Arise City Church also in Lowell is having a drive-thru event, complete with prizes and the Easter Bunny.