Time to get hopping!
Easter weekend is almost here, and there are lots of ways to celebrate the holiday in Southwest Florida.
The fun includes egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, a parade, festivals and even a special church service based on beloved TV kids show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."
Here’s a closer look at what’s happening in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral and the rest of Southwest Florida.
EASTER EVENTS IN FORT MYERS, LEE COUNTY
The Easter Bunny at Edison Mall
The Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through Saturday, April 8. Free admission. Photo packages are $20-$50. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits (no photo package). Edison Mall, 4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers.whereisbunny.com
The Easter Bunny at Bass Pro Shops
The Easter Bunny hops over to Bass Pro Shops.He'll be there 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, April 4-5; 4-8 p.m. Thursday, April 6; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, April 7-8; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 9. Reservationsrequired. Free, including one 4x6 photo. Other photo packages available for $15-$20. Bass Pro Shops at Gulf Coast Town Center, 10040 Gulf Center Drive, San Carlos Park.basspro.com/shop/en/easter
Pine Island 6-8 Grade Golden Egg Hunt
A free event for middle school-age children. Participants will receive a candy bag and have the chance to find golden eggs with special prizes. 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Free. The baseball fields at Phillips Community Park, 5675 Sesame Drive., Bokeelia. leegov.com/parks/Events
Spring Fest in North Fort Myers
Kids can celebrate the holiday with music, yard games, a photo booth, a bounce house and food trucks. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 8. Free. The football field at North Fort Myers Community Park, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers. 533-7200 or leegov.com/parks/Events
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Veterans Park Ultimate Egg Hunt in Lehigh Acres
Kids activities include an egg hunt, games, music, a food truck, a photo booth and more. Bring your camera and basket. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8. $5. Advance registration is required. The basketball pavilion at Veterans Park, 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres. To register, call 369-1521 or visit leegov.com/parks/Events
Easter Eggstravaganza at Fleamasters
The flea market offers two days of Easter fun on Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9: An Easter egg hunt with participating vendors (all day Saturday), Easter egg decorating and coloring in the pavilion (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), a bounce house (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday), visits with the Easter Bunny (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), free face painting (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) and more. Free. Fleamasters Fleamarket, 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers. 334-7001 or facebook.com/Fleamasters
Easter Bunny Egg Hunt at Springtime Farms Adventure Park
Find more than 30,000 hidden Easter eggs at this ongoing, all-day Easter festival with food trucks, an Easter maze, Easter Bunny meet-and-greets, hayrides, crafts and the park’s usual rides and animal attractions. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9. $14 all-day pass includes most activities. Springtime Farms Adventure Park at Springtime Garden Center, 10761 Aqua Vista Lane, North Fort Myers. 309-0630 orspringtimeplantfarm.com
Dunbar Easter Parade and Festival
The 79th-annual Dunbar Easter Parade is back with a new route and the return of the Dunbar Easter Coronation, where a young king and queen will be crowned Friday, April 7, and appear in the parade on Sunday, April 9. This year’s grand marshal is Golden Apple-winning teacher Tamara “Joy” Hunter of Franklin Park Elementary. The parade starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 9 at Dunbar Jupiter Hammond Library and travels south on Ford Street, west on Edison Avenue, north on Palm Avenue, east on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and then back to the library. An Easter Fest follows from about 4-8 p.m. at the STARS Complex, 2980 Edison Ave. The festival includes an Easter egg hunt, vendors, food, live entertainment and more. For more information, call Antoinette Gilmore at 281-5874, Valerie Ervin at 834-2862 or Vonda Curry at 634-7110. Or visitfacebook.com/dunbarfestivalcommitteeinc.
Easter at The Shell Factory
Kids can bring baskets and hunt for candy along the Easter Candy Trail in Shell Factory's nature park. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, April 9. Free. There’s also a special Easter menu at Tommy’s Eat & Spirits. The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers. 995-2141 orshellfactory.com
Easter Egg Hunt and Dolphin Cruise
An “island-style” Easter boat cruise with the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt for thousands of eggs on Picnic Island and the chance to spot dolphins in the water. Easter pails and bottled water provided. Three cruises depart from two different Adventures in Paradise locations on Sunday, April 9: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. at 14341 Port Comfort Road at Port Sanibel Marina in south Fort Myers; and 9:45 a.m. at 645 Old San Carlos Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach. $59-$69. 472-8443 oradventureinparadiseinc.com
EASTER EVENTS IN NAPLES, COLLIER COUNTY
The Easter Bunny at Naples' Coastland Center
The Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through Saturday, April 8. Free admission. Photo packages are $20-$50. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits (no photo package). Near JCPenney at Coastland Center, 1900 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. whereisbunny.com
Eggstravaganza! Easter Egg Hunt on the Lawn in Immokalee
Kids ages 2-10 can celebrate Easter at the annual Eggstravaganza! Easter Egg Hunt with a story, a craft and an Easter egg hunt. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Free. No registration required. Immokalee Branch Library,417 N. 1st St., Immokalee. 252-2073 orcollierlibrary.org
Marco Island Spring Jubilee: Hop Around the Park
The annual Easter event includes games, crafts, music, a scavenger egg hunt and train rides around the lake. Organized by City of Marco Island Parks and Recreation. 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 8. Free. Frank E. Mackle Park, 1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island. 642-0575 or cityofmarcoisland.com/parksrec/page/spring-jubilee-2
Naples Easter 100: A Beautiful Day church service/concert
Celebrate both Easter and the 100th anniversary of the City of Naples. This event includes a nondenominational, Mister Rogers-themed Easter church service and live music from country singer Doug Mathis, singer-guitarist Juan John and Southwest Florida Americana musician Rick Russell. The Mister Rogers theme includes music from the TV show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” a replica of the show’s famous trolley and pastor Tim Sensebaugh changing his sweater and shoes, Fred Rogers-style. Hosted by Coastal Fellowship Church. 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 9. Doors open at 9 a.m. Free. Gulfshore Playhouse at The Norris Center, 755 Eighth Ave. S., downtown Naples. napleseaster100.com
Paradise Coast Sports Complex Eggstravaganza in Naples
The third-annual event lets kids of all ages hunt for prize-filled eggs, jump in bounce houses and inflatables, decorate eggs and placemats, get their faces painted and more. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, April 9. Free. Paradise Coast Sports Complex,3940 City Gate Blvd N., Naples. playparadisecoast.com
Connect with this reporter:Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News.Email him atcrunnells@gannett.com or connect on Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), Twitter (@charlesrunnells) and Instagram (@crunnells1). You can also call at 239-335-0368.
