Spring is a time for blooming flowers, warm weather and, er, egg-shaped candy? Of course, we’re referring to Easter, a holiday that is celebrated by families all throughout the world. Most children look forward to waking up to baskets full of candy, scavenger hunts, and other Easter events. But parent’s have other things on their mind during Easter.
That’s why Best of NJ has put together our Ultimate Guide to Easter in New Jersey. Below, you’ll find a curated selection of our best holiday-themed content. From event listings of restaurants open for brunch or dinner and family-friendly events the kids can enjoy, to delicious lamb recipes and ideas for creating candy-free baskets (children, shield your eyes!), these features cover an assortment of topics that will prepare you for the holiday.
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| Featured Events | Easter Stories | North Jersey Events | Central Jersey Events | Jersey Shore Events | South Jersey Events
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Featured Easter Events
Easter Bunny Brunch at The Pop Shop
When: 4/17/22, Seating times at 9:00 am and 12:00 pm
Where: The Pop Shop (Medford & Collingswood Locations)
Details: The Pop Shop is hosting an Easter Bunny Brunch on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Both locations -- Collingswood as well as Medford -- are offering brunch seatings from 9:00 am - 11:00 am and Noon - 2:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase directly from their website. Ticket prices are $28.95 for adults and $18.95 for kids 2-12. Children under 2 may attend for free, however, The Pop Shop asks guests to purchase a "baby ticket" for them; there is no cost, but this reserves a place seating for babies during the event.
Easter Bunny Brunch and Easter Festival at Alstede Farms
When: 04/02/2022 - 04/19/2022 at 9:00 AM
Where: 1 Alstede Farms Ln, Chester
Details: Celebrate Easter season 2022 with an Easter Bunny brunch buffet and Springtime Festival at Alstede Farms. These events take place on weekends leading up to Easter Sunday. Each time slot allows 90 minutes for brunch. Tickets are on sale now (per table) and include a buffet for each individual and photos with the Easter Bunny; as well as access to Springtime Festival Activities. Alstede Farms also offers add-on activity tickets for children; granting access to a pony ride, wagon train ride, and bounce house at the Festival.
Easter at Home Dinner to Go Special from Ryland Inn
When: 04/15/2022 - 04/16/2022 at 12:00 PM
Where: 115 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse Station
Details: Celebrate Easter at home with a special dinner to go from The Ryland Inn. Orders will be available for pickup on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, 2022 from Noon until 4:00 pm. This prix fixe takeout dinner is $65 per person and includes bread and juice, a first course, entree, sides, and dessert. This includes packaged individual portions for each entree. (However, Pork Roast orders for more than 2 people will be packaged as one large roast.) Visit the Ryland Inn website to learn more, or to place an order for pickup.
Easter Features
The Best Ideas for Leftover Easter Eggs
Easter brings many gifts, not the least of which is a whole lot of eggs. But after the decorating parties are over and the scavenger hunt concludes, the eggs yet remain. Which begs the question: What can be done with all those eggs? After all, there’s only so much egg salad a single household can consume. Fear not, because Best of NJ has a recipe guide with The Best Ideas for Leftover Easter Eggs.
9 Candy-Free Easter Basket Ideas for Kids
Holidays have become synonymous with gift giving and, in particular, gifts of candy. Halloween brings candy by the bucket (literally), while Christmas features chocolate snowmen and peppermint candy canes. Then Valentine’s Day comes along with heart-shaped sugary treats. Instead of filling that Easter basket with candy, why not try something else? Here are 9 Candy-Free Easter Basket Ideas.
Must-Try Lamb Recipes for Easter
Despite the popularity of the Easter Bunny, there is actually another symbol of Easter even more widely recognized. We’re not talking about colored eggs or popular marshmallow treats, either. The most widely recognized symbol of Easter is, in fact, lamb. The association of lamb with religion dates back nearly 4,000 years. Best of NJ honors this tradition with a few Must-Try Easter Lamb Recipes.
Pysanky Takes Easter Egg Dying to the Next Level
When it comes to Easter in New Jersey, the Ukrainian culture does it right. Cooks are hard at work in Garden State kitchens making homemade breads, stuffed cabbage, and pierogies; while artisans began working months ago on traditional crafts like embroidery, beadwork, and pysanky. Mark Wojcik, a hobbyist from Howell, has been designing eggs using pysanky since the age of 5…
How to Get a Good Pic of Kids with the Easter Bunny
Getting a picture with the Easter Bunny is a rite of passage for parents and for kids. It’s a bizarre tradition, but just one of those things that must be done, like getting a picture with Santa. The only problem is the Easter Bunny isn’t human, and also kind of terrifying; making the experience for kids like a nuclear reactor ready to melt down. Here are 7 ways to prepare kids for the Easter Bunny.
Features from Previous Years
The Best NJ Restaurants Open on Easter
Easter is just around the corner! While many families typically host Easter dinner at home, others enjoy going out to eat during the holiday. With that in mind, we’ve put together our annual list of The Best NJ Restaurants Open on Easter. This lists includes a selection of restaurants from across the state offering either brunch or dinner options for Easter; many of which feature limited holiday menus.
The Best Easter Events for NJ Families
The arrival of spring means warmer temps, blooming flowers and, of course, Easter events to enjoy with the whole family. Delicious breakfasts and brunches, scavenger hunts for eggs, and photo ops with the Easter Bunny are holiday fun favorites. Which is why Best of NJ puts together an annual list of The Best Easter Events for NJ Families. These kid-friendly activities are sure to enhance the holiday.
The Best Easter Egg Hunts in New Jersey
It’s that time of year again and the hunt is on… The egg hunt, that is. What wonders lurk inside those colorful baubles of plastic? There’s only one way to find out! Easter egg hunts are one of Spring’s biggest delights. Whether the treasure is candy, toys, stickers, or even money, the joy is in the hunt. Best of NJ proudly presents families with a statewide list of The Best Easter Egg Hunts in New Jersey.
The Best Easter Brunches in New Jersey
Easter is all about waking up to baskets from a large gift-giving bunny, and then getting brunch. Which makes sense, given the holiday’s close association with eggs, the star ingredient of any good brunch. New Jersey has no shortage of Easter brunch spots, offering tasty meals often paired with a Bloody Mary (or two). In particular, here are Best of NJ’s picks for The Best Easter Brunches in New Jersey.
The Best Easter Train Rides in New Jersey
Just as the Polar Express train comes along during Christmas, there are a number of Easter Train rides in NJ. These holiday trains feature a visit from the Easter Bunny, as well as a variety of activities; from egg hunts to photo ops and, of course, candy treats for kids. However, these train rides often sell out quickly. Mark those calendar, because here is Best of NJ’s list of The Best Easter Train Rides in New Jersey.
Upcoming Easter Events
North Jersey
Central Jersey
Kids Cookie Decorating Spring Class at Ryland Inn
When: 04/09/2022 at 11:00 AMWhere: 115 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse Station
Details: The Ryland Inn is celebrating the start of Spring with a special Cookie Decorating Kids Class on Saturday, April 9. This class welcomes both kids and their parents to decorate an assortment of cookies in all kinds of shapes. Children that are feeling festive for the holiday can decorate Easter cookies. The "Kids Class: Spring Cookies" event is from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, and is for one day only. Tickets are on sale now and cost $37.89, which includes 1 parent/guardian. Visit the Ryland Inn website to learn more or purchase tickets.
Easter at Home Dinner to Go Special from Ryland Inn
When: 04/15/2022 - 04/16/2022 at 12:00 PMWhere: 115 Old Highway 28, Whitehouse Station
Details: Celebrate Easter at home with a special dinner to go from The Ryland Inn. Orders will be available for pickup on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16, 2022 from Noon until 4:00 pm. This prix fixe takeout dinner is $65 per person and includes bread and juice, a first course, entree, sides, and dessert. This includes packaged individual portions for each entree. (However, Pork Roast orders for more than 2 people will be packaged as one large roast.) Visit the Ryland Inn website to learn more, or to place an order for pickup.
Easter 2022 at the Olde Mill Inn & Grain House
When: 04/17/2022 at 9:30 AMWhere: 225 US-202, Basking Ridge
Details: Celebrate Easter 2022 at the Olde Mill Inn & Grain House in Basking Ridge with special holiday menus. On Sunday, April 17, families can enjoy one of two available options. First, they are offering a prix fixe menu at the Grain House with seatings from 11:15 am until 6:15 pm. Meanwhile, the Olde Mill Inn is hosting a Grand Buffet from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm. The prix fixe menu at Grain House is $68 per person and $27 per person for the kids' menu. Likewise, The Grand Buffet is $75 for adults and $30 for children ages 4-11.
Jersey Shore
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South Jersey
Easter Bunny Brunch at The Pop Shop
When: 4/17/22, Seating times at 9:00 am and 12:00 pmWhere: The Pop Shop (Medford & Collingswood Locations)
Details: The Pop Shop is hosting an Easter Bunny Brunch on Sunday, April 17, 2022. Both locations -- Collingswood as well as Medford -- are offering brunch seatings from 9:00 am - 11:00 am and Noon - 2:00 pm. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase directly from their website. Ticket prices are $28.95 for adults and $18.95 for kids 2-12. Children under 2 may attend for free, however, The Pop Shop asks guests to purchase a "baby ticket" for them; there is no cost, but this reserves a place seating for babies during the event.
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