Easter egg hunt
The largest Easter egg hunt in the Hunter Valley is on again this year. The egg hunt on Sunday will be the ninth time Hunter Valley Gardens has held the event.
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Hundreds of brightly coloured plastic eggs will be scattered in and around the Storybook Garden.
Every 45 minutes from 10am to 1pm a new egg hunt begins and all children who participate receive an Easter chocolate.
On Easter Saturday and Sunday there will be a chance to find the giant chocolate golden egg, hidden in the gardens.
The lucky person who finds the egg will win an annual family pass for two adults and two children to Hunter Valley Gardens worth $275.
There will be a special visit from the Easter bunny during the weekend as well.
In keeping with the Easter theme, children can interact with chickens and watch them hatch.
There will be a jumping castle, guided tours of the 10 display the Storybook Garden.
Hunter Valley Gardens is open from 9am to 5pm.
For the full Easter program visit www.hvg.com.au or call 4998 4000.
Church service with a difference
For a lot of Maitland families the Easter weekend means a visit to church. Easter marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is an important part of the Christian liturgical calendar.
Services are held throughout the weekend, but Lifehouse Church in East Maitland has taken it one step further and will hold a community event.
“I think it is important to celebrate as a family,” organiser Chloe Ellenbacher said.
“We are going to bless the families in the area and there will be activities and an egg hunt.
“We want everyone to have a fun time at Easter. [The event] is totally free and it will still be on if it is raining.”
The family day starts at 10am on Saturday.
Children will be given an Easter egg bag to decorate, ready for the big hunt at 11am.
Easter eggs will be hidden around Lifehouse Church, at 61 Victoria Street, East Maitland.
A free barbecue lunch is planned for noon and there will also be balloons, face painting and a giant inflatable bungy area.
Phone 0422 364 220.
Billycart derby
For those who want to add a bit of speed to their Easter long-weekend the annual Gresford Billy Cart Derby is on Saturday.
The derby is a spectacular day out for all the family, with market stalls, vintage car displays, children’s activities, cake stalls and a chocolate wheel.
Of course the main event is the racing.
Billycarts of all shapes and sizes race down Park Street, East Gresford, from 9am.
Drivers can be as young as eight or as old as granddad and all the billycarts are made to a design specification.
Despite the regulations there is still a lot of room for fun.
Last year’s race saw a plane, a giant pencil and a coffin on wheels take on the 400-metre track.
This year’s event is expected to attract a similar crowd to last year, which was about 4000.
Oliver Rampling, 14, from Vacy, will race his billycart in the derby and so will his father Jason.
The father and son have spent the past few months modifying their cart and practising, and the rivalry between them is heating up.
In 2014, Aidan Foote from Maitland won the under-16s title and Jim Mandiadis from Rathmines was named senior champion.
Cinema under the stars
The Easter holiday fun continues at The Vintage in Rothbury.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will be screened as part of the golf and country club’s Movies Under the Stars on Sunday.
It will be the first of four films to be played on the weekends in April.
The children’s films are free to attend. Just bring is a picnic blanket to grab a spot on the fairway lawn.
For the parents, alcohol will be served, and for the children, or at least those who are kids at heart, there will be popcorn, ice cream and lollies on offer.
The Vintage will also hold children’s activities during the school holidays.
On Tuesday April 7 and 14 there will be an Easter craft and cookie decorating workshop for children aged five to 14 years.
Golf workshops and princess and pirate craft classes will also be held.
On Easter Sunday, a free egg hunt will take place and the Easter bunny plans to hop by.
There is a cost for school holidays activities and bookings are required.
Phone 4998 2201.
Camp Quality Easter egg hunt
Spotted Gum Park will be the venue for a charity Easter egg hunt on the long-weekend.
The free event on Monday is a fundraiser for Camp Quality and participants are asked to give a gold coin donation.
Spotted Gum Park is at Mckeachie’s Run in Maitland.
All egg hunters must register to participate. Phone Donna Oliver on 0403 123 180.
Maitland Markets
Maitland Markets are on Sunday at the showground from 8am to 2pm.
There will be free face-painting for children and plenty of Easter arts, crafts and chocolate.
Singer Sandy Bennett will also perform on the day.