Celebrating Easter in New Jersey - Events, Parades, and Egg Hunts.

Celebrating Easter with Pagan Traditions

The Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs.

Over the years Easter has become more secular in spirit, though it has it's celebrations based on both pagan and Christian underpinnings.

Pagan Spring festivities following the dark cold days of winter, were bright and celebratory. With the onset of warmer, lighter days, and the birth of new life that nature thrusts upon us, many of the current Easter symbols and events evolved from pagan Spring and equinox celebrations.

In Medieval Europe, eggs being viewed as the symbol of life, were hung on trees and Maypoles during pagan spring or equinox festivals. In ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome, during the equinox festivals, eggs were colored, used as decorations, eaten, and were sometimes used as gifts.

The Easter bunny, representing the fertility of the rabbit, has become a secular Easter symbol. It was the German immigrants and their children that are believed to introduce the Easter Bunny and the colored eggs in the U.S.

2012 Easter Events In New Jersey

Northern NJ 2012 Easter Events

Chester's Family Easter Egg Hunt
April 7, 2012, 10:30 am. Ropes drop at 11:00 am (Rain or Shine)
Gazebo at Municipal Field
Main Street
Chester, NJ
This fun event will feature over 5,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes, and includes a competitive Jelly-Bean counting contest and confectionary-themed raffles. Attendees will enjoy live music and comedy from legendary children's entertainer, Polka Dot the Clown, and a special visit from The Easter Bunny.

Easter Bunny Express
Departing Whippany, NJ
Celebrate the return of Spring with a fun themed train ride through northern New Jersey! The Easter Bunny and helpers will be on board greeting everyone during the 45-minute round-trip ride along the Morristown & Erie Railway's historic Whippanong Trail. You'll enjoy the comfort of heated passenger coaches as the Easter Bunny's helpers hand out holiday treats for the kids. You are welcome to bring your camera to take photos en route (free of charge), but be aware that the Easter Bunny has to visit many children and can't stay long with each person.
The train departs the Whippany Train station on: Saturday March 31, 2012, Sunday April 1, 2012, and Saturday April 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 4:00 PM.
For Tickets: http://whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/

Blomingdale Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 7, 2012, 12 noon
Delazier Field
973-838-0778
Rain location inside the Walter T. Bergen Middle School
Bloomingdale, NJ

Phillipsburg Easter Bunny Train Ride
99 Elizabeth Street
Phillipsburg, NJ
1-877-train-ride
http://nyswths.org/Easter.htm
This is fun family event. Departing from the Historic District of Phillipsburg, the ride will go along the scenic Delaware River, onto Carpentersville and to the destination at historic Lime Kilns. In front of the 150 year old Lime kilns is a beautiful little glade filled with Easter eggs! Hop off the train and take a picture with Mr. Bunny and gather 4 Easter eggs. On the train enjoy banjo playing Hobo and a Juggle. Trips run on: March 31, April 1, and April 7, 2012 at 11am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, and 3:30 pm.

Easter Egg Hunt & Barn Activities
Alstede Farms
84 Route 513 (Old Route 24)
Chester, New Jersey
908-879-7189
Take a scenic farm hayride to the barn - Visit with baby farm animals - Throw some fastballs in our "Farm Pitch" pitching game - Hunt for eggs in our Hay Bale Maze - Sit on a real farm tractor - Take your picture with the Easter Bunny.
Monday - Thursday April 2nd - April 5th 1 pm - 5 pm; Friday, April 6th 10 am - 5 pm; Saturday, April 7th 10 am - 5 pm.

Train rides with the Easter Bunny
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wayne, Rt 23 Transit Center
A 90 minute train ride for kids, parents, and grandparents. Train will head west for a round trip into Morris Country & back. During the trip they will pass historic Boonton Yard viewing the many locomotives and railcars being restored for the proposed NJ Transportation Heritage Center.
Departure times: 9:30 am, 12 noon & 2:30 pm. Parking is Free.
For tickets; contact the ticket office at:
vratrips@yahoo.com or (973) 238-0555

Easter Lunch & Dinner Cruises
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Celebrating Easter on the water is a great way to kick off Spring withawesome views of the Manhattan skyline. Includes live entertainment, DJ dancing, an appearance by the Easter Bunny and a lunch buffet with additional kid-friendly items including pizza, chicken fingers and French fries.
Spirit Cruises
866.483.3866
Sailing from Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken, NJ
Board: 11:30am; Cruise: Noon to 2:00pm
Price: $44.90 per adult $24.95 per child age 3-12

Central NJ 2012 Easter Events

Easter Express
April 16, 17, 23, 24, 2012
Allaire State Park
Pine Creek Railroad
Route 524 (also known as 4265 Atlantic Avenue)
Farmingdale, NJ
732-938-5524
office@njmt.org
Share a ride on the train with the Easter Bunny! Trains leave every half hour from Noon to 4:30 PM.

Bunny Chase
Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8, 1:00 pm - 3:30pm
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-924-2310
A free, fun event for families with kids. Follow the treasure hunt clues and find a spring surprise at the end of the hunt! Wonderful for children ages 2 – 8 years. Each child can make a bunny to take home; everyone can enjoy a Terhune Orchards bunny cookie. Event is weather-dependent.

Asbury Park Annual Easter Day Parade
Asbury Park Boardwalk
Easter Sunday
This is a long standing tradition that brings out families dressed in their finest spring outfits.
Rain or Shine. In the event of inclement weather, the event is held in Convention Hall or the Paramount Theatre.

Southern NJ 2012 Easter Events

The Easter Day Promenade
April 8, 2012
Seaside Heights
800-732-7467
Kicks off on the Boardwalk at noon. Admission is free so come by to check out or show off your Easter Sunday best.

Cape May Easter Egg Hunt
April 7, 2012, 10 am
Cape May Elementary School Fields
Cape May, NJ
Free for children pre-school through second grade.

Moorestown Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Moorestown Friends School's Greenleaf Estate
28 East Main St
Moorestown, NJ
joho20@ymail.com
(609)937-5557.
The hunt is planned for youngsters ages 2 through 8 who will search for prizes in thousands of plastic eggs hidden on the Greenleaf's back lawns.

Stone Harbor Fire Department Annual Easter Egg Hunt
March 31, 2012 12 Noon
at the Firehouse
96th St. & Second Ave.
609-368-4091
Stone Harbor

Easter Celebration in Downtown Ocean City
Saturday, April 7, 2012
downtown 6th to 11th St. along Asbury Ave.
Ocean City, NJ
609-399-1412
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, free photos with the Easter Bunny in a lifeguard stand, and candy filled eggs for kids.

Easter Wildwood Opening Day Celebration
April 8, 2012
On the Boardwalk at 23rd Ave
North Wildwood
609-522-3900
12PM to 4PM.
Morey’s Piers
Opening day celebration with fun for the kid in all of us including rides, food, entertainment and an Easter egg hunt for the kids.ew Jersey

Check out our list of the Best Family restaurants or the Best Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants if you plan on celebrating Easter with your family at a New Jersey restaurant.