Easter always signals the end of a dreary winter and the rebirth of spring. Why not have some fun with the kids and make memories that will last a lifetime? A cute and crafty Easter Egg Hunt that includes egg decorating along with a craft station is interactive and creative… much more fun than simply stuffing plastic eggs with candy and throwing them around the yard. Add an easy to assemble kid friendly buffet with a mix of healthy and fun treats to make this party hopping good fun for everyone. Get one of your kids to write their own Easter story. Print and let the kids have one to take home. Make this a family party, a neighborhood get-together, or just plan some fun with your own kids. They’ll never forget it!
DECORATIONS
To keep decorating costs to a minimum, I used items from around the house or yard. A collection of borrowed birdhouses were used to help bring the outside indoors. I made an indoor egg tree by using a pot of pansies as a base and added tall branches from a shrub. Daffodils (about $2.99 each) from the garden center were potted in colorful tin pails ($1 each at Target) and can be planted in the yard after the party. We added branches of yellow Forsythia, straw bunnies, and decorated eggs to a flat of wheat grass to create a preview of spring days ahead.
FOOD
After surveying the kids, we put together a buffet of their favorites. To keep it simple and safe, we didn’t include hot dishes. Since we were boiling lots of eggs for decorating, deviled eggs were an obvious choice. To give the adults options, I included my signature DYI toppings bar so everyone could create their own deviled egg creation.
The kids requested peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which were made on white whole wheat bread and cut into Easter shapes with large cookie cutters. Lots of “rabbit” food was on the menu: a platter of carrots and ranch dip and red and green apple wedges with peanut butter fluff were healthy choices.
Because Easter traditionally includes lots of candy, we kept desserts to a minimum. The marshmallow Peeps® cake we made using tiers of brightly colored Peeps® was the hit of the party. At about $1 per box, they are a cheap and fun decorating accessory, too.
ENTERTAINMENT
In addition to the egg hunt, we came up with a few games that were easy to manage. A wind-up bunny race and carrot shaped balloon racers ($5.95 per dozen at Oriental Trading Company) were a hit with the kids and adults, too. An activity table loaded with pre-dyed colored eggs for decorating and other crafts kept little hands busy between games.
MARTIE’S PARTY TIPS
- A colorful craft table is always a good way to keep kids busy at a party and it’s a great idea to have designated people to lead the fun. We found a former teacher and craft expert willing to don a bunny suit to assist the kids with craft projects and help keep them focused. Hire an artsy teenager if you aren’t crafty.
- We dyed the eggs in advance to avoid a big mess but gave the kids lots of stickers, glitter glue, flowers, and ribbon to customize their own eggs.
- We put down a strip of indoor/outdoor carpet purchased by the yard at a home improvement store ($2.99 a yard) to define the play area. The kids enjoyed a variety of easy to contain games.
- Bring the outside in with daffodils, pansies, and branches from the yard to create a spring-like setting. If you don’t have a yard, you can find what you need at a florist, garden center, or craft store floral department.
- Get extra mileage out of food or beverages by using them as decorations. These plastic glasses filled with colorful drinks make a bright and cheery display.
No matter if you’re expecting rain, snow or sun this Easter, make some memories for your family and friends with this simple party plan that can easily be recreated indoors or out.
Photography: Arden Ward, Arden Photography
