Cherry blossoms are blooming, the weather is (slowly, but surely) warming up and Easter is right around the corner, which means springtime has hit in Washington D.C. The city is gearing up for events (both religious and secular) for the whole family to enjoy. From egg hunts to yummy brunches, these are some of my favorite Easter activities in the Washington D.C. area this year.
This annual event takes place on Easter Monday of each year, and this year’s 135th edition is scheduled for April 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the “roll” itself, where kids get to race through the grass pushing their egg with a spoon, kids can participate in an Easter egg hunt and enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny, as well as the President and First Lady. The ticketed event is a highly coveted invite for Washingtonians, and this year is no exception with more than 35,000 guests expected to attend.
Easter Services
Many visitors and locals alike begin Easter celebrations with a Sunday morning church service. Some of Washington’s most beautiful chapels and churches are open to the public for Easter programs including the Washington National Cathedral and St. John’s Church, an Episcopal church where the President and First Lady attended Easter services in 2012.
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The annual Cherry Blossom Festival may not technically be an Easter event, but it marks Washington’s return to warmer weather. More than 3,000 cherry trees throughout the District will bloom during the festivity that takes place between March 20 and April 14, 2013. Nearly 100 special events will take place, but we’d suggest simply strolling around the Jefferson Memorial or taking a paddleboat on the Tidal Basin to see the blooms. Lucky for Easter visitors, the peak bloom time is scheduled for April 3 to April 6.
Easter Brunch Hot Spots
The capital offers a plethora of Easter brunch options; try out these favorites for a guaranteed great meal:
Dine at one of the Obama’s favorites for your Easter brunch. Blue Duck Tavern, located inside the Park Hyatt Washington is offering a three-course menu for $95 per person with exquisite selections such as duck confit hash, rock shrimp scrambled eggs and rhubarb blackberry crumble.
The comfort food choice restaurant, Sou’Wester, located in the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Mandarin Oriental, is offering a family-style menu for Easter brunch for $65 per adult and $35 per child. The three-course menu includes bourbon pecan sticky buns, an Ancho chile glazed pork loin entrée, and doughnuts for dessert, among other shareable dishes. Plus, there are two Easter egg hunts on the lawn, one at 11 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.
Zaytinya, a Mediterranean concept by acclaimed chef José Andrés, kicks of “Greek Easter” between March 31 and May 5. The five-week fest will consist of special menu offerings including a $35 prix-fixe brunch menu on Easter Sunday featuring lamb dishes and a contemporary take on vegetable puree soup.
Adour, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant located inside in the Four-Star St. Regis Washington, D.C., is featuring a four-course menu of traditional French dishes and prized Easter picks — expect Maine lobster medallions to start and a roasted baby lamb with a spring vegetable gratin — for $90 per person.
Photos courtesy of iStock/fstockfoto
