MIAMI, FL — Easter celebrations across the country and in the Miami area will look different from ever before in 2021 as traditional events such as egg hunts, religious services and restaurant deals will go on virtually as well as in person.
In Miami, there are numerous egg hunts and Easter Bunny meet-and-greets taking place in person for the little ones. Several local restaurants have created special holiday menus for Easter Sunday.
Upcoming family-friendly events include:
- Dadeland Mall Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, Monday, March 29, noon to 2 p.m., at 7535 N Kendall Drive, Miami. Search for eggs throughout the mall. Learn more here.
- Traditional Easter Egg Hunt & Dinner, Sunday, April 4, noon to 4 p.m., American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club, 13325 Arch Creek Road, North Miami. Purchase tickets here.
- Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Glass & Vine, 2820 MacFarlane Road, Miami. Register online here.
- Easter Escape Weekend, Friday, April 2, 6 p.m., through Monday, April 5, 10 p.m., at AmericanAirlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd. in Miami. Events include a Caribbean soiree, a flotilla of yachts, a BYOB Cooler Fete, Easter morning breakfast and more. Learn more here.
- Egg Hunt, Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at The Little Farm, 13401 SW 224th Street, Miami. Purchase tickets here.
- Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, April 4, 11 a.m. to noon, Red Rooster Overtown, 920 NW 2nd Ave., Miami. Reserve a spot at this egg hunt here.
Enjoy a special Easter Sunday menu at these local restaurants:
- Villa Azur, 309 23rd Street, Miami Beach. Serving a special menu on Easter Sunday. Check out the menu here.
- Diya Sunset Harbour, 1766 Bay Road, Miami Beach. Check out their Sunday brunch menu here.
- Rusty Pelican, 3201 Rickenbacker Cswy., Key Biscayne. Serving Easter Sunday brunch. Find the menu here.
- The Lincoln Eater, 723 Lincoln Lane N., Miami Beach. Serving Easter Sunday brunch. Learn more about the food hall and its offerings here.
- Fuego y Mar at the Ritz-Carlton South Beach, 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach. Serving an Easter Sunday buffet brunch. Learn more here.
- Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, 130 NE 40th Street, Miami. Serving Easter Sunday brunch. Check out the menu and make a reservation here.
Mostly religious services went virtual during the Easter season last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was still fairly new and most states remained under strict shutdown orders in mid-April. This year, there’s more of a combination of virtual and in-person services taking place with the pandemic having passed the one-year mark.
Here are some religious services in the Miami area:
- Christ Journey Church, Outdoor Easter service Sunday, April 4, at 6855 SW 152 Street, Palmetto Bay. Streaming services Saturday, April 3, 5 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 4, 11 a.m. Learn more here.
- Vous Church, Good Friday service, Friday, April 2, 7:30 p.m. at the South Miami campus, 6767 Sunset Drive. Easter Sunday mass, Sunday, April 4, 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 1;30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Jungle Island campus, 1111 Jungle Trail, Miami, and 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in South Miami. Learn more here.
- Miami Baptist Church, 14955 SW 88th St., Miami. Good Friday service, Friday, April 2, 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday service, Sunday, April 4, 11 a.m. Reserve your spot here.
- Granada Church, 950 University Drive, Coral Gables. Easter Sunday services, Sunday, April 4, 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m. Reserve your seat here.
Good Friday, on April 2 this year, marks the death of Jesus Christ. Easter, two days later, celebrates the time when he was resurrected. The Sunday holiday always occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Religious traditions on Good Friday include periods of silence and fasting for many Christians, prominently in the Catholic faith.
Fairfax United Methodist Church in Virginia is also streaming its Holy Week services, with an in-person service offered to a limited number of attendees on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.
Many Protestant churches will have their traditional sunrise services with social distancing in mind. The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is having its services on Easter morning, while the Colorado Council of Churches canceled its service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and instead will have Bishop Kym Lucas of the Episcopal Church in Colorado lead a virtual service.
One of the most celebrated Easter traditions outside of church is the Easter egg hunt, many of which were canceled last year but will return in some form in 2021. In La Grange, Kentucky, an egg hunt is planned in conjunction with a drive-in theater and movie; and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, already held its egg hunt over two sessions, with early sign-ups required.
