Biggest Easter Egg Hunts in the D.C. Area

If you are looking for an Easter egg hunt for the family, Washington, D.C. offers plenty of them. Of course, the biggest event is at the White House, but even if you do not get a ticket to the famous annual Easter Egg Roll held on the White House South Lawn, you can still get involved in some of the biggest Easter egg hunts in the D.C. area.

Easter Egg Hunt in D.C. Image: Switzerland County (Flickr)

2010 Easter Egg Roll
Where: White House South Lawn
When: April 5
Cost: Free (if you are selected)

This year’s theme is “Ready, Set, Go!” promoting health and wellness to children. To coincide with the First Lady’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to combat childhood obesity, all of the activities will encourage children 12 and under to lead healthy and active lives. Here is the catch: you have to win a lottery ticket to this event. If you are one of the lucky ones who were selected through an online lottery system, you can enjoy live music, sporting events, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling.

Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place
Where: Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
When: April 3
Cost: $7 for children, $10 for adults

Touted as “the largest Egg Hunt in Washington D.C.,” the Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place offers an exhilarating Egg Roll Contest, exciting games, egg decorating and spring basket crafts. Get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny, who is available for pictures all morning. You can also enjoy a self-guided tour of Tudor Place’s 5.5 acres of beautiful gardens. Be sure to bring a basket, a spoon and one hard-boiled egg per child.

Easter Monday –Celebrating the African American Family
Where: Smithsonian National Zoological Park
When: April 5
Cost: Free

Rain or shine, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park will offer visitors a variety of special family activities, entertainment, food and special opportunities to learn more about animals. Easter Monday has been a Washington-area multicultural tradition for many years, and this year will feature special performances such as African drumming, gospel music and storytelling. The Pathways to Freedom Peace Quilt will be on display, honoring the work and life of civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
Where: Butler’s Orchard in Germantown Maryland
When: March 27, 28, April 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 & 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day
Cost: $8 for children and $6 for adults

This small, family-friendly zoo in Germantown, Md., has annual Bunnyland festivities around Easter. Families can participate in a day’s worth of events, such as an Easter egg hunt, pony rides, raffle tickets, candy, face painting, Easter pictures, and even a hayride down the Bunny Trail. If that is not enough to entice your kids, how about the Rubber Ducky Derby, the Pedal Tractor ride, giant slides and plenty of food vendors offering hot dogs, veggie pitas, popcorn, cookies and more?

Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee Park
Where: Ida Lee Park in Leesburg, Virginia
When: March 27, noon – 4 p.m.
Cost: $6 per child in advance, or $8 at the gate

There are more than 15,000 eggs hidden throughout Ida Lee Park at this annual Easter Egg Hunt. Egg hunts are separated by age group. Other activities in the park include a moon bounce, a jumbo slide, a fire truck train, face painting and balloon artists.

Easter Egg Hunt at Morrison House
Where: The Morrison House Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia
When: April 11, 2 p.m.
Cost: $38 for adults, $28 for children

Make reservations soon for this popular Easter event, as spaces fill up quickly. The Morrison House has a regular Story Time Tea program, but this Easter it will incorporate a special Easter party and egg hunt that includes a reading of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” Kids will have a chance to make their own Easter basket, indulge in a spread of candy, treats, tea, and sandwiches and participate in an indoor/outdoor egg hunt throughout the main level of the hotel and in the courtyard. Plus, the Morrison House makes it interesting for adults too. One golden egg will be hidden, containing a gift certificate for an overnight stay and dinner for two at The Grille.

April Lentini writes for Apartment Guide in Washington, D.C