Des Moines-area Easter egg hunts and activities
There are plenty of opportunities to meet the Easter Bunny and search for little plastic eggs in the Des Moines metro this month.
The website Des Moines Parent has compiled the following list of Easter activities. To have your egg hunt added, email community@dmreg.com.
Family flashlight Easter egg hunt
When: 8 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, March 23
Where: Pickard Recreation Area, 1468 Highway 92 East, Indianola
Info: Bring your own flashlight and hunt for eggs! Prizes will be awarded and then enjoy s’mores and hot chocolate around a campfire. Register with Indianola Parks and Recreation.
Wesleyan Church Easter egg hunt
When: 9 to 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 24
Where: Woodlawn Park, 3126 Twana Drive, Des Moines
Info: Debra Heights Wesleyan Church’s annual Easter egg hunt features more than 10,000 eggs.
West Des Moines Christian Church egg hunt
When: 11 a.m., Saturday, March 24
Where: West Des Moines Christian Church, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Info: Egg hunts, games and treats for children ages 0-5 and in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Prairie Vista egg hunt and festivities
When: 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 24
Where: Prairie Vista Village, 2785 First Ave. S., Altoona
Info: Face painting, balloon art, snacks, Easter egg hunt and an appearance from the Easter Bunny.
Special Egg Event
When: 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 24
Where: Valley Stadium, 4440 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines
Info: A free Easter egg hunt for children with special needs and their families. There is a quiet egg hunt for children on the autism spectrum or children with sensory processing issues. A beeping egg hunt for visually impaired children. A magnetic egg hunt for children with wheelchairs or mobility restrictions. Enjoy food, carnival games, activity areas and egg hunts.
Lincoln Heights egg hunt
When: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 24
Where: Lincoln Heights Lutheran Church, 1217 Watrous Ave. Des Moines
Info: Egg hunts will be held at 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m., alongside other family Easter activities.
Ankeny Kiwanis egg hunt
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24
Where: Hawkeye Park and Ankeny Miracle Park, 310 N.W. School St., Ankeny
Info: There are four age groups: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8. There will be a special hunt for children with special needs at the Miracle Park.
Polk City egg hunt
When: 10 a.m. Saturday, March 24
Where: Lakeside Fellowship Church, 1121 W. Bridge Road, Polk City
Info: Ages 8 and younger. The Polk City Kiwanis will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. Lakeside Fellowship will have games and crafts during the same time.
Annett Nature Center egg hunt
When: 10:30 a.m. to noon, Sunday, March 25
Where: Annett Nature Center
Info: Older kids (5-10 years old) search for eggs in the Annett Nature Center. Little tykes (4 and younger) hunt in the butterfly garden. There will be crafts and a basket for egg recycling. Register with Warren County Conservation.
Adult Easter egg hunt
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 27
Where: Hotel Renovo, 11167 Hickman Road, Urbandale
Info: Enjoy a glass of wine and hunt for prizes and other treats. The hunt will officially begin at 5:45 p.m., with a special golden egg prize announcement at 6:30 p.m. Barn Town Brewing samples and live music by Mike Aceto.
Creekside Church egg hunt
When: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Creekside Church, 2743 82nd Place in Urbandale
Bridge Campus Easter treasure hunt
When: 9 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: The Bridge Campus of Meredith Drive Reformed Church, 10025 N.W. 62nd Ave., Johnston
Info: Sessions for preschoolers and kindergartners and another for elementary-aged students. Each includes activities and crafts, storytelling, and hunting for special eggs and treat bags.
Kids' Easter Eggstravaganza
When: Noon to 7 p.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines
Info: Games, crafts, Easter egg hunts (age 6 and under), inflatables, snacks and photo opportunities. Sessions begin at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m.
Reiman Gardens egg hunt
When: 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Reiman Gardens, 1407 University Blvd., Ames
Info: Runs continuously from 9 to 11 a.m. Children will have the opportunity to search for colorful eggs to trade in for a goody bag. In case of inclement weather, activities will be moved indoors. No registration required. Admission is free.
Waukee Easter egg hunt
When: 10 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Centennial Park, 1255 Warrior Lane, Waukee
Info: Find thousands of eggs and pieces of candy. Be on the look-out for some special golden eggs. Rain or shine. Three age groups: 4 and under, 5-7 and 8-10.
The Great Egg Hunt
When: 10 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Giovannetti Community Shelter, 9000 Douglas Ave., Urbandale
Info: Ages 10 and younger at this Urbandale Parks and Recreation program. Some eggs even have a few special prizes.
Clive Easter egg hunt
When: 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Linnan Park, 8500 Alice Ave., Clive
Info: The Clive Firefighter’s Association sponsors the annual Easter egg hunt.
Blank Park Zoo Eggstravaganza
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Blank Park Zoo
Info: The zoo will release clues about the location of special golden eggs on social media starting March 25. If you can find one, you'll receive a prize. Regular zoo admission required.
Cumming Easter egg hunt
When: 10 to 10:15 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Ted Lare Design Build and Garden Center, 2701 Cumming Ave., Cumming
Info: Ages 11 and under. The Easter Bunny will hide more than 7,000 eggs. He'll be on hand for photos.
Ankeny First United Church egg hunt
When: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Ankeny Band Shell, 410 W. First St., Ankeny
Info: Fourth grade and younger. Tinkerbell, Cinderella and Rapunzel will be in attendance. There will be a special needs egg hunt at the Ankeny Aquatics Center wading area. Special beeping and magnetic eggs will be used. The wading area is wheelchair and handicap accessible.
Living History Farms Family Easter
When: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 31
Where: Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road, Urbandale
Info: Egg hunts (divided by age), egg rolling, pancake rolling, live animals, horse and wagon rides, and games. Free pop and popcorn for everyone and breakfast wraps for the first 1,000 visitors. Join IPTV’s Dan Wardell for story time in the Walnut Hill Schoolhouse. Purchase tickets online.
Windsor Heights egg hunt
When: 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Colby Park, 6900 School St., Windsor Heights
Info: Hosted by the Windsor Heights Fire Department. Rain or shine.
Gateway Church's Eggs, Eggs Everywhere
When: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 31
Where: Western Gateway Park, 1330 Grand Ave., Des Moines
Info: More than 17,000 candy- and prize-filled eggs, music, games and laughter. After the massive egg hunt, stick around for more family fun at the kids’ art station, giant inflatables area and the face painting station. Free coffee for parents.
Urbandale's eighth annual Egg Dive
When: 1:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31
Where: Urbandale Swimming Pool, 7201 Aurora Ave., Urbandale
Info: Children will be divided in age groups to dive for colored eggs in the pool. Each egg will be turned in for a prize. $6 admission.
Adult Easter egg hunt
When: 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 1
Where: Summerset Winery, 15101 Fairfax St., Indianola
Info: The hunt will have an adult theme and adult prizes. Live music by James Biehn from 2 to 5 p.m.
OTHER FUN EVENTS
Egg-cellent Extravaganza
When: 6:15 to 7 p.m., Thursday, March 22
Where: Clive Public Library, 1900 N.W. 114th St., Clive
Info: Explore stories, music, crafts, games and an indoor scavenger hunt. Register online or contact the library at 515-453-2221.
Easter coloring contest
When: March 23-31
Where: Waukee Parks and Recreation
Info: Spread some Easter cheer by participating in the annual Easter coloring contest. Download your color pages, color and send them in. Winners will be announced at the March 31 egg hunt.