Easter 2026: What’s happening across the Southland

By Kristina Light

Easter Sunday lands on April 5 this year, and the weeks leading up to it are full of special events with egg hunts, bunny visits, brunches, and holiday treats.

Easter Egg Hunts and Family Fun

Egg hunts aren’t just for kids. World Market in Martin City runs a Golden Egg Hunt daily through April 5. Each day, a clue is posted on the store website, and shoppers ages 18+ are invited to search for four golden eggs per session, with sessions beginning at opening and again at 4 pm. The eggs can be redeemed for $20-100 gift certificates to use in the store.

The entire family is invited to Faulkner’s Ranch, founded by the family who ran Benjamin Ranch in South KC for decades. They host their annual Spring Round Up on weekends, March 28 and 29, and April 3 and 4, from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Families enjoy a self-paced Egg-Venture hunt throughout the ranch, visits with baby chicks, goats, and cows, strawberry donuts, and ranch-themed games and activities.

Families looking for more springtime fun can head to Wonderscope Children’s Museum. The week of March 30, their programming includes color-mixing activities throughout the week, a shaker egg hunt during Wednesday’s Music and Movement class, Faberge egg making during Thursday’s Art Time class, and a Bunny Hop Sack Race during Friday’s Kid Fit class. 

Through April 4 at Town Center Plaza, live bunny and baby chick portrait sessions for children ages 6 months and older are available through Jordan Photography.

The calendar fills quickly on March 28, as churches and organizations throughout the area open their doors for free Easter egg hunts. Grace Point Baptist Church opens the day early with its Spring Festival and Egg Hunt at 9 am, offering face painting, games, and crafts. An hour later, the festivities spread across the metro, with Emmanuel Baptist Church’s Easter Eggstravaganza drawing families with three age-based hunts, face painting, balloon artists, a petting zoo, games, and food. Church of the Resurrection brings its Easter EggVenture to the Brookside campus from 10 am to noon, with crafts, inflatables, and snacks.

Also at 10 am, Verona Hills hosts its annual age-divided egg hunt at Migliazzo Park, where the Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos, and Belton Parks and Rec kicks off its annual hunt at Memorial Park with games and an Easter Bunny visit before the egg hunt at 11 am. Colonial Presbyterian hosts its annual Eggstravaganza at its South KC campus at 10:30 am, featuring inflatables, a petting zoo, a balloon artist, and free lunch. Rounding out the day’s lineup, Madison Senior Living in Martin City presents an all-abilities, sensory-friendly celebration beginning at 11 am, complete with an egg hunt, Easter Bunny visits, face painting, cotton candy, and popcorn.

For families looking for something unique, Grandview Parks and Rec puts a creative spin on the tradition with its annual Egg Dive at View Community Center, also on March 28, beginning at 10 am. Children swim and dive for eggs. Admission is $5 per person, and advance registration is required.

On Palm Sunday, March 29, there are three more local hunts.  Country Club Christian Church runs its hunt at 10 am with an Easter breakfast, age-designated hunts, a goody bag for every child, and Easter Bunny photos. At noon, Red Bridge United Methodist holds its annual Palm Sunday Petting Zoo and Easter Eggstravaganza with a hands-on petting zoo with adorable fuzzy animals, candy, and a community egg hunt. And For Peeps Sake! is Leawood’s egg hunt at Ironwoods Park from 1 to 3 pm.

The day before Easter, April 4, brings three more hunts. Grandview Parks and Rec starts the morning early with an age-divided hunt at Meadowmere Park from 9 to 10:30 am, with the Easter Bunny available for photos. First Baptist Church of Kansas City welcomes families for a two-hour event at 10 am featuring an egg hunt, bouncy houses, and food, while Grace Church at their South Overland Park campus offers a sensory-friendly hunt at 10 am before opening a traditional hunt at 10:30 am.

Downtown Lee’s Summit transforms for its annual Downtown Bunny Hop, as families line up at Green Street at 10 am and parade alongside the Easter Bunny through the shopping district. For those seeking indoor options, SCHEELS caps the afternoon with a Meet the Easter Bunny event from 11 am to 3 pm, with free bunny ears and a coloring book for children, balloon art, and face painting.

For the athletes in the family, KC Running Co. presents its annual Easter Egg 5K and 10K at 8 am from the Southcreek Office Park in Overland Park, benefiting Cornerstones of Care on April 4. The event includes post-race food, medals, visits with the Easter Bunny, and a Lil’ Bunny Fun Run for ages eight and under.

On Easter Sunday, April 5, KC First Church of the Nazarene hosts a free community breakfast at 9 am and a service with children’s church and an egg hunt at 10:30 am. Martin City Baptist Church hosts a community egg hunt following Easter Sunday worship. The hunt takes place after the 11 am service and is open to all families.

Easter Dining and Delicious Treats Across South Kansas City

For those who prefer to let someone else do the cooking, local restaurants are going all out for Easter Sunday. Barley’s Kitchen and Tap in Overland Park serves an impressive Easter Sunday brunch buffet from 10 am to 3 pm, featuring prime rib, shrimp cocktail, smoked ham, mac and cheese, and endless mimosas. Those craving comfort food will find a welcoming spot at Charleston’s at Ward Parkway, where made-from-scratch classics anchor the menu. Summit Grill hosts an Easter Brunch at all three locations, including Waldo, with favorites like Bananas Foster French Toast and Quiche Lorraine. At the Leawood location of Iron Horse Bar and Grill, weekend brunch specialties feature Cajun Shrimp and Grits, Country Fried Chicken and Eggs, and Pancake Platters among the offerings. Jack Stack Barbecue offers a heat-and-serve Easter carryout package including pork spare ribs, beef burnt ends, hickory pit beans, and cheesy corn bake, available for pre-order. And, Stroud’s packages Easter Family Meal Boxes to serve at home with fried chicken, honey ham, sides, and the restaurant’s famous cinnamon rolls. Reservations are recommended across the board.

Local bakers and candy-makers offer a tasty selection to fill your baskets. McLain’s in Waldo has been a Kansas City favorite since 1945. The bakery offers a selection of custom cakes, cookies, and mini desserts perfect for gatherings and basket fillers. Woodland Custom Cookies in the Brookside-Waldo corridor makes hand-decorated sugar cookies, including bunnies, chicks, and eggs. The bakery also offers gluten-free and vegan options, as well as cookie decorating kits for families who want to decorate their own cookies at home.

Chocolate lovers will find treats at Sweet Granada in Red Bridge Shopping Center, known for their Spring Truffle Collection, seasonal macarons, assorted gift boxes, and chocolate bunnies. Fox and Bull Bakery in South KC  is known for its crowd-pleasing Robin’s Egg Donut, featuring a sourdough brioche donut filled with malted milk whipped custard, chocolate ganache, and a robin’s egg candy garnish, and Easter sprinkle sugar cookies. And finally, French Custard in the Brookside area sells decadent carrot ice cream cakes. Pre-orders are recommended for all local bakeries and sweet shops.

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