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

RESTON, VA — Easter celebrations across the country and in Reston 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.

Here are some holiday events and services that are happening in the Reston area:

• Easter Celebration: Restoration Church is hosting two Easter services on Sunday, April 4. There will be an online service at 9 a.m. and an in-person service at 11 a.m., at the Large Pavilion at Lake Fairfax Park, 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston. Registration is required for the in-person worship.
• Easter Service: Sunday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., at Reston Presbyterian Church, 10610 Sunset Hills Road, Reston.
• Good Friday Service: Worship in-person and live-stream on Friday, April 2, 7-8 p.m., at Reston Presbyterian Church, 10610 Sunset Hills Road, Reston.
• Easter Day via Zoom: Sunday, 10 a.m., at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 1700 Wainwright Drive, Reston.
• Easter Brunch & Dinner: Sunday, April 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and 4-9 p.m., at Mon Ami Gabi, 11950 Democracy Drive, Reston. Book now.
• Roer's Zoofari Easter Spring Fling: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. $20 per child and $25 per adult for advance purchase. Roer' Zoofari is located at 1228 Hunter Mill Road in Vienna.
• Reston Association's Egg-Stravaganza: Thursday, April 1, 10 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; and 12 p.m., at the Walker Nature Center, 11450 Glade Drive, Reston.
• Easter Sunday Celebration: Three-Course Special Family Meals To-Go on Sunday, April 4, at McCormick & Schmick's, 11920 Democracy Drive in Reston.
• Resident Easter Egg Hunt & Luncheon: Friday, April 2, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Tall Oaks Assisted Living, 12052 N Shore Drive, Reston.
• Outdoor Kids Easter Egg Hunt: Saturday, April 3, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at the Southview Community Church, 2620 Reston Parkway, Herndon. RSVP.
• Outdoor Easter Service: Sunday, April 4, at 10 a.m. at the Southview Community Church, 2620 Reston Parkway, Herndon. RSVP.
• Kids Easter Celebration: Saturday, April 3, 12-3 p.m., at Calvary Temple Church, 50214 Triple Seven Road, Sterling. Free food, games, moon bounce, and interactive Easter story.
• Easter Bunny Photos: Daily through Saturday, April 3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., at Dulles Town Center, 21100 Dulles Town Circle.
• Easter Services: Sunday, April 4, 6:15 a.m.-12 p.m., at Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Road, Herndon.
• Traditional Easter Worship Service: Herndon United Methodist Church, located at 701 Bennett St., in Herndon, has a number of Holy Week events planned, including a drive-thru Way of the Cross on Thursday and digital worship services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

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.