Everybody loves some Bunny

My first Easter Egg Hunt in New Jersey happened off the boardwalk in Asbury Park. Not only had I never been on one, I had never even heard of one before. I was about 6 years old and still living in the concrete jungle of Brooklyn. Nobody hid eggs in Brooklyn. They threw them at passing buses. So now here I am in Asbury Park at it’s heyday in the 60’s, right alongside Convention Hall and the Paramount Theatre, Howard Johnson’s looming in the background, waiting for me to come in and order clam strips and fries (oh wait, it was Easter Sunday. We were probably going to the Buttonwood). Hundreds of children lined up to make that mad dash out onto the sand, to discover and unearth…what? Eggs? I could not grasp the concept. That being said, when that whistle blew, I was out of the box like a bride-to-be at Filene’s Basement on sale day, and found more eggs than I could carry. To my utter surprise, they were made of plastic and were filled with goodies of all kinds – candy, nickels and dimes, and being New Jersey, lottery tickets! OK, I made that last part up. But it was AMAZING! I will never forget that day and now as I get older and can’t remember my kids names or what I had for lunch yesterday, I still find it incomprehensible that I can recall, in detail, right down to what I was wearing and what the weather was like on that morning. Every child should have a memory like that. And then there was the Parade! Beautiful people in beautiful outfits that, in that day and age, brought out the finest attire I had ever seen except on television. In Brooklyn as an altar boy I used to participate in the religious parades we would have through the streets of Bay Ridge. As the smallest boy of the bunch I got to march at the very head holding the cross. I will not go into detail concerning the punishment I received when, upon seeing my friends on 70th street, I twirled said cross like a drum major at a college bowl game. I’m still so ashamed…

Easter Egg Hunts and Parades are alive and well in New Jersey and no matter where you live, there is something for you and your family to eNJoy this month. Here are some celebrations you can look forward to:

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
Contact: Kathy Barbieri at 908-879-2900
www.ilovechester.com
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.

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 with awesome 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.

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.

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