This year Easter weekend falls on Sunday, April 16th, 2017 which is also an extra special day for me as it falls on my birthday, once every 10 years this happens. So you bet I’m more than a little excited to celebrate everything Easter! Vancouver has special Easter events for all ages, including Easter Egg Hunts, an Easter Train, visits with the Easter Bunny and more. I have sourced some of the best brunch spots to take your family, a few gift ideas and some recipes you can try at home.
EVENTS TO CHECK OUT:
Hop on the Stanley Park Train for an egg-citing Easter ride through Stanley Park. After the train ride, purchase carnival strip tickets so your kids can enjoy fun activities including mini golf, face painting, inflatable bouncers, hunting for eggs, meeting the Easter Bunny and more. Adults can join in the fun too! Don’t miss out on this unique all ages Easter event. Limited seats available.
When: April 13 to 17 – 10am to 5pm
Where: Easter Train in Stanley Park, off Pipeline Road
Who: Vancouver Park Board Chair Michael Wiebe and Easter bunny
Tickets: available online here.
Bring your kids to experience the 9th Annual Great A-Maze-ing Egg Hunt at VanDusen Botanical Garden on Saturday, April 15 or Sunday, April 16! Enjoy an outdoor egg hunt around the hedge maze, meeting the Easter bunny, kids crafts and activities, and tasty treats from on-site food trucks.
When: April 15th and 16th – 10am to 1pm
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street
Tickets: Kids (1-10 years) $12.00 Adults $11.00. Purchase online here.
BLOOM Abbotsford Tulip Festival
From April 10th to May 7th the Abbotsford Tulip Festival returns to the same beautiful location in the country for another year of blooming beauty and springtime fun. The popular and absolutely stunning outdoor festival offers visitors a chance to marvel at 10-acres of rainbow-coloured fields featuring more than 2.5 million tulips and over 40 varieties in a vivid display of breathtaking beauty. The agri-tourism attraction offers a covered picnic area, food trucks and many family-friendly games and activities.
When: April 10 to May 7th – daily 9:00 am to dusk.
Where: 36737 North Parallel Road, Abbotsford.
Tickets: Weekends & Holidays: $15 per person. (Must be pre-purchased online.)
Weekdays: $8 for ages 13-64
Locals Night: Tuesdays & Thursdays after 3 pm: $2 for Abbotsford residents Children 2 years and under are free. Parking is included with all tickets.
Grouse Mountain’s annual Easter festivities are a great way to spend time with family. Enjoy a buffet brunch featuring delicious options for all ages plus face painting and an exciting Easter Egg Hunt led by the Easter Bunny himself!
Brunch seatings are available on April 16th, 2017 between 9:30am and 2:00pm in The Observatory and Timber Room. At $50 for an adult or $18 for a child, prices include Skyride admission and access to Mountaintop activities.
Tickets: Call 604.998.5045 to reserve your family’s table or go online for more information here: https://www.grousemountain.com/events/easter-brunch-2017#.WOUvJfkrKUk
Kilby Historic Site Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon
Come and join the fun at Kilby Historic Site’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon! This event is set in the 1920’s surrounded by a heritage farm. There’ll be prizes for everyone and a special prize for the lucky ones who find the Gold and Silver Eggs. Decorate an egg to hang on the Easter Tree, spend some time with the friendly farm animals and play some old fashioned Easter themed games and crafts. Other activities will run throughout the day. New baby chicks, turkeys and piglets on site.
Book the whole family into the restaurant for a Traditional Easter Luncheon! This year’s menu features our famous traditional Roast Turkey dinner, complete with all the trimmings, veggies, beverage and dessert for $19.95. Sittings are at noon and 2 pm. Reservations are recommended.
Where: 215 Kilby Road, Harrison Mills, BC
When: April 15th – 17th
Admission: Adult $10, Senior $9, Youth $8, Children 5 and under Free, Family $25
Reservations: Call 604-796-9576 for more information.
BRUNCH SPOTS:
BOULEVARD KITCHEN & OYSTER BAR | http://boulevardvancouver.ca/
Easter Buffet Brunch Service
On Sunday, April 16, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar will offer a special Easter Buffet Brunch service featuring house-baked breads and pastries, salads, charcuterie and classic brunch favourites as well as a raw seafood bar, carving station and kids’-only menu that includes a handcrafted take-home chocolate bunny for the little ones ($72 adults; $25 kids 12 and under). Full details and menu available here.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar: 845 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Glowbal Group | http://www.glowbalgroup.com/blog/2017/03/24/book-today-for-an-easter-brunch-buffet/
Easter Brunch Buffet
Glowbal TELUS Garden’s 100+ item brunch buffet returns on Sunday, April 16th. 100+ of your favourite brunch items will be served buffet style, like the Eggs benny, carving stations, omelette stations, crab legs, jumbo prawns, pastry tables, bacon, eggs, salads and more!
When: Seating from 10am onwards. Reserve now here.
Where: Glowbal – 590 W Georgia St, Vancouver
Tickets: Children 10 and under $22, Adults $49
RAILTOWN CATERING | www.railtowncatering.ca/easter-to-go/
Easter To-Go
Railtown Catering will once again offer their gourmet ‘Easter To-Go’ dinner packages, available for pick-up and delivery (hot or cold) on Sunday, April 16. Each package includes a choice of entrée (Honey Glazed Bone-in Ham with Creamed Horseradish or Lemon-and-Rosemary-Crusted Leg of Lamb with Natural Lamb Jus), seasonal side dishes and a classic dessert. Full details and menu available here.
All orders must be placed 12 p.m. by Wednesday, April 12. Easter To-Go packages are available for pick-up at Railtown Cafe (397 Railway Street, Vancouver) on Sunday, April 16.
THOMAS HAAS CHOCOLATES & PATISSERIE | https://www.thomashaas.com/
2017 Easter Collection
Renowned chocolatier Thomas Haas has unveiled his latest collection of handcrafted Easter-themed confections — available exclusively at both Thomas Haas Chocolates & Pâtisserie locations — and is bringing back his annual Charitable Easter Egg Raffle benefiting the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and North Shore Crisis Society.
The 2017 Easter Collection is available now in stores only.
Kitsilano Store, 2539 West Broadway, Vancouver
North Shore Store, 128-998 Harbourside Drive, North Vancouver
EASTER RECIPES TO MAKE AT HOME:
PC® Beet Slaw – $2.49
Add a bright, fresh spin to salads with this tender, crunchy blend of shredded broccoli and carrots, angel hair-cut green cabbage and shredded kale, featuring the mild sweetness of shredded golden beets. Ready to eat, simply mix with creamy dressing or vinaigrette as a side salad, hotdog or taco topper, or add to stir-fries and sautées.
Serves: 8
Prep time: 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Per serving: 220 calories, fat 13 g (1.2 g of which is saturated), sodium 310 mg, carbohydrate 22 g, fibre 3 g, protein 4 g
INGREDIENTS
- ¼ cup (50 mL) PC® Red Wine Vinegar
- ¼ cup (50 mL) PC® 100% Pure Safflower Oil
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15 mL) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
- ½ tsp (2 mL) freshly ground black pepper
- 1 pkg (340 g) PC® Beet Slaw
- 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and cut in matchsticks
- ½ cup (125 mL) sliced natural almonds
- ½ cup (125 mL) PC® Tart Montmorency Cherries Whole, Sweetened Dried Fruit, chopped
- ¼ cup (50 mL) thinly sliced red onion
- 1/3 cup (75 mL) PC® Unsalted Raw Pumpkin Seeds
DIRECTIONS
- Whisk together vinegar, oil, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper in small bowl.
- Combine beet slaw, apples, almonds, cherries, onion and seeds in large bowl. Add vinaigrette; toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or cover and chill 30 minutes.
PC® Carrot Nut Rustic Cake – $7.99
Perfect for special occasions, this delectable cake brings artisanal charm to your dessert table. Abundant with shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, coconut and pecan pieces, it’s topped with a hand-spread cream cheese frosting made with icing sugar and butter, leaving the edges undone for perfectly imperfect rustic appeal. The carrot cake is pre-made, so this is a great option to grab in store when you’re on the go. You can top it with whatever you like – walnuts, banana slices, orange zest, etc.
GIFT IDEAS:
Shop locally this Easter and visit Etsy.com to browse through handmade and vintage gifts and home decor from BC artists. Quilled carrot decorations ($15.00) from Vancouver’s Wintergreen Designs are perfect for getting the little ones excited for the Easter bunny. An antique rabbit charm bracelet ($104.08) from Vancouver vintage jewellery vendor Silver Trumpet Jewellery makes for a sweet Easter keepsake for the vintage lover in your life . Add some Easter flare to the home with a watercolour bunny throw pillow ($48.57) from Vancouver-based artist Triple Studio. Keep things sweet and simple with an eco-friendly Easter card ($6.94) from Banquet.
Natalie’s Easter Giveaway
We want to give you the chance to WIN a 5 pack to the Tulip festival!
And to help your gift giving we want to give you a $100 gift card to ETSY!!
TO ENTER: Tell us the most creative place you’ve ever hidden an Easter egg and which prize you’d like to WIN in the comments below!!
Good luck and Happy Easter!!!
Natalie
**Contest Rules & Regulations**
The winner agrees to abide by the rules and regulations outlined here http://www.jrfm.com/contestrules/ for pick up at #300-1401 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6H 1C9. Office hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.
All prizes must be claimed within 60 days at the offices of CJJR-FM and are non-transferable. After 60 days, prize becomes the property of CJJR-FM, to do with as it may determine, including awarding it to another contestant, and CJJR-FM shall be released and discharged from any liability or responsibility in this regard.
Only ONE member of the household will be eligible to qualify or win in any single Contest.
By entering the Contest, all persons are deemed to have read and to have accepted these rules and regulations.