Busy Easter weekend on both sides of the lake

Several parades and Easter events will compete for the attention of local families this Easter weekend.

On the Northshore, St. Tammany Parish is hosting the 2009 annual Eggstravaganza on Saturday at John Davis Memorial Park in Lacombe starting at 10 AM Saturday.

The Eggstravaganza event will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.   Organizers are expecting a crowd of hundreds to the free event, and there will be free hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks.

The Lacombe event will feature contests held for "best Easter bonnet" and "best Easter basket." And, organizers say the Easter egg hunt on park grounds, and prizes will be awarded, along with an appearance by the Easter Bunny at the event.

For more information on the 2009 Eggstravaganza, call (985) 867-9490.

(More Saturday events are listed below)

On Easter Sunday, several parades will take place in historic sections of the city.

The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade includes carriages and convertibles. It starts at 9:45am. Sunday morning. It begins at Arnaud's, takes a left on Dauphine, left on Iberville, left on Bourbon, right on Toulouse, right on Royal, left on Conti and right on Chartres. The procession pauses for about an hour at St. Louis Cathedral for the 11:00am Mass.

This parade will feature women throwing candy and stuffed animals. After Mass, they reverse the route. The parade rolls up St. Ann, left on Decatur, left on Dumaine, left on Royal, left on Chartres, left on Iberville and left on Bienville, it ends at Arnaud's about 12:45pm.

At 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday, the Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade will roll. It starts at Canal and Bourbon, rolls down Bourbon to St. Philip, heads up to Decatur and back toward Canal Street.   Riders throw trinkets and beads from colorful floats.

"Easter on the Avenue" will roll down St. Charles starting at Emeril's Delmonico restaurant, 1300 St. Charles Ave., at 1:00pm. Sunday Riders in carriages and convertibles will toss Easter throws as they proceed on St. Charles around Lee Circle, then back Uptown on St. Charles, turning at Cadiz Street, and then back to Delmonico's.

The 10th Annual New Orleans Gay Easter parade also rolls on Sunday. It starts at 4:30pm in the 800 block of North Rampart. The parade turns left on St. Ann, left on Bourbon, right on Esplanade, right to Royal, right to St. Louis, right on St. Louis to North Rampart, right on North Rampart to Toulouse, right to Burgundy, left on Burgundy, ending at the corner of Burgundy and Orleans.


Other Easter Weekend Events:


He's no Peter Cottontail but one of the fish at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has gone bunny! On April 11th and 12th, 2009, children of all ages will be needed to help find all the fish eggs he has been hiding throughout the Aquarium. At the end of the hunt each participant will receive a special Easter treat!



Hop into Kenner's Rivertown for fun and egg-citement at "Breakfast with the Bunny." Doughnuts and beverages, photo and visit with the Bunny, plus the Porta Puppet Players presenting "Krewe of Easter Karnival." Saturday, 10 a.m., Children's Castle and Rivertown Exhibition Hall, 415 Williams Blvd., Kenner. $10 (age 2 and up); $5 (under 2). Reservations required 504.468.7231.


The 2009 annual Eggstravaganza will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at John Davis Memorial Park in Lacombe. Music will be provided by Papillion, and free hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be served. Contests will be held for best Easter bonnet and best Easter basket. The always exciting Easter egg hunt will happen on the park grounds, and prizes will be awarded. Rumor has it that the Easter bunny will make an appearance at the event, sponsored by Parish President Kevin Davis and the St. Tammany Parish Government, Parish Councilman of District 7 Al Hamauei, the Tammany Trace Foundation, the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs, St. Tammany Recreation District 4, and the St. Tammany Sheriff's Reserves. For information, call 985.867.9490.


The eighth annual Community Easter Egg Hunt community egg hunt will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Winn-Dixie, 3030 Pontchartrain Drive, Slidell. Free food, games and prizes will be featured.


Whole Food Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 11th Begins at 2 pm at the Whole Foods on Veterans Blvd. in Metairie.


Fairview-Riverside State Park, 119 Fairview Drive, Madisonville will host an Easter Traditions program April 11 at 1 p.m. Join the staff for traditional Easter egg hunts and rolling contests. Participants will be divided into three age groups: 4 and younger; ages 5-7; and 8 and older. After the children's activities, visitors of all ages are invited to learn the Louisiana custom of "egg pocking." The Easter bunny will be visiting; cameras are welcome.


Celebration Church... For toddlers through 5th grade and their families! Enjoy bunny hop races, an egg toss, bounce houses, Easter egg hunts, sidewalk chalk art and more - for FREE! Saturday, April 11 at our Metairie campus the festivities are from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm, and end just in time for you and your family to attend our Family Service beginning at 4:30 pm.


Sunday at Parkway Presbyterian Chruch in Metairie... At 9:10 am we will have a community Easter egg hunt for children, followed by the children helping with the creation of a flower cross. Fellowship will continue until 10:30 am when we will gather in the sanctuary for our traditional Easter worship service. We invite you to join us for this worship of God celebrating Christ's resurrection!