Despite March 2020 feeling like it was 91 days instead of 31, it still feels a little surreal that Easter is already here! With Easter Bunny pictures cancelled, no public egg hunts or church events, and no large family gatherings, this year is certainly unlike the holiday most of us are used to. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to still celebrate at home with your loved ones. From activities you can plan, to local spots offering holiday menus, and ways to fill those baskets, here’s a list of ways you can make the day feel special.
Easter is about hope, life, love and joy – all things that we should be celebrating now more than ever!
Easter Activities to Do at Home
Chances are, your Easter is going to look very different this year. Here’s a list of activities you can plan for your family to keep the holiday from feeling just EVERY. OTHER. DAY. right now.
- Decorate Easter eggs. Here’s a link to 9 different ways to decorate them. And if you don’t want to use real eggs, you can pick up plastic ones at just about any grocery store, the dollar store or Target. Then use stickers, or try one of these ideas.
- Have an Easter egg hunt throughout your home and yard. Here’s a link to some ways you can make the hunt unique.
- Do an Easter themed scavenger hunt.
- Make an Easter dessert as a family. These chocolate chip cookies use ingredients you probably always have, just get the pastel M&Ms when do your next “stock up” grocery run.
- Do an Easter fashion show. Despite staying home, have everyone put together fancy or funny outfits, then show them off to relatives in a virtual fashion show.
- Do Easter crafts. These no-sew sock bunnies are easy to make, and they’ll be adorable decorations for years to come.
- Watch a fun Easter-themed movie. The movie Hop is on Netflix.
- Paint rocks to look like Easter eggs. Go for a walk around your neighborhood and place them in different places for your neighbors to see.
- Do Easter-themed chalkart outside your house.
- Place glow sticks in Easter eggs (or just use flashlights) to do a nighttime Easter egg hunt for older kids.
- Color Easter pages to decorate your home or mail to relatives.
- Use some type of video chat with family at various times throughout the day like during the egg hunt or for the blessing before eating dinner. If you can coordinate a craft ahead of time, kids could even have a virtual craft session with their cousins. Whatever will help you feel more connected during this time of separation.
- View a live telecast of church services.
- Do you have a backyard firepit? Make Easter candy s’mores! (A Peeps and a Reese’s egg sound like the perfect combo.)
Local Eats for Easter Shopping, Takeout, Curbside Pick-Up or Delivery
Have you been cooking more than ever lately? In honor of the holiday, take the day off. These Philadelphia spots are offering special Easter menus.
DiBruno Bros.
1703 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
215-665-9220
834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
267-519-3115
DiBruno Bros. is our 2020 Happening List Winner for Gourmet Market, and they’re doing everything they can to make sure you can still safely shop their stores to prepare all your favorite Easter dishes. Shop in stores or places an order online for delivery or curbside pickup.
(Photo from DiBruno Bros. on Facebook)
Reading Terminal Market
51 N. 12th Street, Philadelphia
215-922-2317
www.readingterminalmarket.org
Shop online or in-person from 8am – 6pm daily. Restaurants and prepared food merchants are takeout and delivery only. Place orders for delivery, pickup and delivery on demand through www.mercato.com and use code RTMFREE for free delivery. Many merchants are available for delivery through Caviar, Uber Eats, Grubhub and other food delivery platforms. See a list of delivery options at Reading Terminal Market here. Park for free (up to two hours with validation on purchases of $10 or more at the Hilton Garden Inn Garden Garage at 11th and Arch and Parkway Garage a 12th and Filbert.
Devon Seafood Grill
225 South 18th Street, Philadelphia
215-546-5940
Devon Seafood Grill, our 2020 Happening List Winner for Seafood, is offering family-style Easter meals that serve 4-6 people. Includes choice of soup and side salad, one main entree selection, two family style sides, biscuits and one family-style dessert. Pricing is based on the entree choice with spiral glazed ham at $135 and wood-fired grilled salmon at $165. View the complete menu here. Orders must be placed by noon on Saturday, April 11. The restaurant will be closing early on Easter Sunday, so ask about the carryout hours. Reheating/serving instructions will be included.
Fogo de Chao
1337 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
215-875-9990
Fogo de Chao is offering an Easter grilling menu with everything you need to prepare a Brazilian inspired celebration right at home. Meats are ready to grill and sides are ready to serve. Meals serve 4 people and pricing varies depending on the entree. View the complete menu here.
The Capital Grille
1338-46 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia
215-545-9588
Indulge this Easter with a Capital Grille Exclusive Dinner, prepared to reheat or ready to serve. Your choice. This meal is priced for either 2 people for $95 or 4-6 people for $185. The meal includes salad and rolls, whole rack of bone-in filet with sauteed mushrooms and horseradish cream, grilled asparagus with lemon mosto and Sam’s mashed potatoes. The meal ends with freshly baked apple crostata for dessert. Upgrade your meal with shrimp cocktail, lobster mac n’ cheese, wine or champagne. If you prefer to cook at home, there are also roasts, steaks, and an assortment of sides available. View the complete menu here. (Their new takeout menu is also available.) Curbside pickup begins Friday, April 10 from noon to 8 p.m. The restaurant is open for pickup on Easter from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Twisted Tail
509 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia
215-558-2471
The Twisted Tail won’t be able to host their Easter Brunch Buffet this year, but they still want to be part of your holiday. So they’re offering a special takeout and delivery menu. The menu is priced a la carte and can be viewed here. Look forward to options such as beer & honey glazed ham, prime rib, whole fried chicken, crawfish mac & cheese, BBQ smoked ribs, cornbread and more. And you don’t want to forget their famous beignets (or chocolate & peanut butter tart) for dessert. Call to order by Friday, April 10 at 8 p.m.
Cry Baby Pasta
627 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia
Bridget Foy and husband Paul Rodriguez will offer na Easter Menu at Cry Baby Pasta – including Lamb Osso Bucco with mint gremolate, carrot crema and broccoli rabe; Spaghetti Tetrazzini with ham, peas, mushroom, fontina sauce and spaghetti; Harissa Baby Carrots; Caesar Salad; Carrot Cake by Slice and Cake; Chocolate Cream Pie by Slice and Pie; Assortment of Macaroons; and Whole Rainbow Easter Cake with six beautiful pastel layers. Click here for pricing and to pre-order by Wednesday April 8 for pickup by Saturday, April 11.
(Photo from Cry Baby Pasta on Facebook.)
Maggiano’s
1201 Filbert Street, Philadelphia
215-567-2233
Maggiano’s is open for business for curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash and online ordering on Maggianos.com. Order online through DoorDash or the Maggiano’s website. Curated and portioned cold-prepped Easter bundles are available for you to heat fresh in the oven and share with friends and family. The bundle feeds four to six guests and limited quantities are available, call ahead to reserve and pickup Friday, April 10 or Saturday April 11. The $120 Easter Bundle includes mini meatballs, Caesar salad, Mom’s lasagna, 4-cheese ravioli, chicken piccata, spaghetti aglio olio, garlic broccoli and tiramisu.
Easter Basket Help
Do you fill baskets with candy? Toys? Summer clothes and necessities like bathing suits and flip flops? All of those options are sure to bring a smile to your kiddos face. This year, you might want to make an extra effort to put a few things in their basket that will provide some entertainment during your time at home.
Sure, you could probably order a lot of your basket supplies from Target or Amazon, but why not support a small business? (Plus, with so many things sold out and delayed shipping, they might not get here in time!) To make things easy, here are a few local businesses that can help you fill those Easter baskets with goodies you can purchase safely from your home or in person.
Pennsylvania General Store
51 N 12th Street, Philadelphia
215-562-9771
www.pageneralstore.com
Our 2020 Happening List Winner for Candy! Shop in person at Reading Terminal Market or online for local delivery through Mercato. Locally made food and crafts and a collection of Easter goodies are available for purchase.
Shane Confectionary
110 Market Street, Philadelphia
https://shanecandies.com/shop/
Shane Confectionary is America’s oldest candy store and a 2020 Happening List Finalist. While it’s too late to order delivery, you can try to order online for store pickup. Favorites include all-natural jelly beans, Easter mallow creams, peanut butter goose eggs, buttercream eggs, clear toy candy, and more.
Lore’s Chocolates
34 South 7th Street, Philadelphia
215-627-3233
loreschocolates.com
Lore’s Chocolates is offering curbside pickup now through Thursday, April 9. Place orders online. Orders will be ready within 24 hours for pickup. Choose from all types of foil wrapped chocolates, coconut cream eggs, peanut butter eggs, chocolate bunny pops, molded eggs, boxed chocolate, and more.
Teuscher Chocolates
Shop a variety of Swiss chocolates online. Seasonal and specialty items for Easter are available.
