Where to celebrate Easter around Salem: Easter Bunny photos, egg hunts, face painting

This weekend, enter a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt, take pictures with Deepwood Museum’s Easter Bunny or win a free ride on the Riverfront Carousel.

With Easter around the corner, Salem Reporter gathered a list of events, both free and ticketed, happening between Friday and next Sunday that will celebrate the holiday with various activities.

Here’s Salem Reporter’s list of Easter events. If you know of an Easter event open to the community, email reporter Madeleine Moore at [email protected] with the information.

Black light egg hunt

*Friday, April 18: A free glow in the dark Easter egg hunt will take place in south Salem at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club. The black light event will be open to all ages and people are encouraged to wear white or neon to glow in the dark as they find eggs. Several food options will be available throughout the evening, including So Cheesy food truck, Raw Blendz and Gracie’s Sweets and Treats. 

The egg hunt will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday night. Although the event is free, people are asked to RSVP for the event online. The Salem Tennis and Swim Club is located at 4318 Lone Oak Rd. S.E. More information is available on Facebook.

Riverfront Carousel

*Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20: Start your Saturday or Sunday off with a morning Easter egg hunt at Salem’s Riverfront Carousel. The egg hunt, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, will have a limited number of eggs for people to find. Inside each egg will be a treat or one free ride on the carousel. There is a limit of one egg per participant.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the carousel, 101 Front St. N.E. Information is available online. 

Kroc Center

Saturday, April 19: Head to the Kroc Center for its annual underwater Easter egg hunt that takes place in the center’s pools. On Saturday morning, pools will be filled with colorful eggs that can be traded in for prizes. The egg hunt will be split into three age groups, 0-4, 5-8 and 9-12. The first group will start at 10:45 a.m.

There will also be a Sunday Easter egg hunt at the Kroc church at 12 p.m. Tickets for the Saturday egg hunt are $10 for non-members and members get in free. The Kroc Center is located at 1865 Bill Frey Dr. N.E. More information is available on Facebook.

Salem Center Mall

*Saturday, April 19: Participate in an Easter egg hunt in Salem Center Mall and get the chance to grab a photo with the Easter Bunny. The egg hunt will be in two groups with 6-12 year olds starting at 11 a.m. and 1-5 year olds starting at 12 p.m. Photos with the Easter Bunny will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is free to attend and will last from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants should meet at the mall, located 401 Center St. N.E. near the food court. Information is available online.

Deepwood Museum

Saturday, April 19: Explore Deepwood Museum and Gardens during its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday. The egg hunt, which is designed for children 12 and under, will be from 1-3 p.m. Saturday along with the chance to take pictures with the Easter Bunny afterward.

Tickets are $6 per child and $1 per adult. Deepwood Museum members get $1 off their tickets. Money goes towards the museum’s community programs and maintaining the historic home. Deepwood is located at 1116 Mission St. S.E. More information is available on Deepwood’s Facebook.

First Free Will Baptist Church

*Saturday, April 19: Starting at 11 a.m., children are encouraged to enjoy an Easter egg hunt and other activities at First Free Will Baptist Church in east Salem. The event will also have a bounce house, coloring activities, face painting and a Bible story.

The church is located at 1390 45th Ave. N.E.

The River Church

*Saturday, April 19: Participate in a free Easter egg hunt at Riverfront Park along with a large giveaway of games and toys. The egg hunt will be divided into four age groups. People are encouraged to bring baskets or bags for the hunt.

The free event will start at 11 a.m. and will take place at Riverfront Park, 183 Front St. N.E. Information and registration is available on Salem Reporter’s calendar.

Sunnyslope Christian Reformed Church

*Saturday, April 19: Win a prize by finding golden eggs at the Easter egg hunt hosted by Sunnyslope Christian Reformed Church. The egg hunt, which starts at 11 a.m., will be at Wendy Kroger Park, 200 Arlene Ave. S.E.

Following the egg hunt, free lunch will be provided at the church, 197 Hrubetz Rd. S.E. Information is available online.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

*Saturday, April 19: A free egg hunt, Easter Bunny photos and a party will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Saturday morning. The event will start at 10 a.m. with an Easter egg hunt divided by age for toddlers through fifth graders. Then there will be the chance to take pictures with the Easter Bunny and play games and party in the gym.

The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and will take place at the church, located at 1770 Baxter Rd. S.E. More information is available on Facebook.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation

*Saturday, April 19: More than 2,000 Easter eggs will be hidden around the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem for an egg hunt starting at 1 p.m. The afternoon event begins at 12:30 p.m. and includes a bounce house, face painting, crafts and snacks such as hot cocoa and coffee. The Easter Bunny will also be at the event.

The event will take place at the church, located at 5090 Center St. N.E. More information is available on the congregation’s Facebook.

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE.