Sometimes, we wish we could have the best of both worlds; living downtown, but with a big backyard to grow lettuces, raise a few chickens, lie in the warm grass in summer after the rain, and have egg hunts with the kids and family at Easter.
During the Easter long weekend, most Montrealers, including us, will be drinking coffee on their concrete balconies (which heat up nicely in the sun, so we’re not complaining too much) and watering herbs in large stoneware pots, absorbing the sun’s rays at an angle – and that’s great, but it’s a bit complicated when it comes to hiding and/or concealing eggs.
Fortunately, there are many ways to hunt eggs in Montreal, and we’ve got a list…
Ecomuseum Zoo, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
From April 18 to 21, the ecomuseum will be celebrating Easter with a visit from the Easter Bunny, who will be handing out chocolates and surprises to the little ones, and allowing everyone to celebrate spring with the family, with the added bonus of conservation and encounters with local animals.
It’s a 30-minute drive from downtown Montreal. It runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, and reservations are required online, at the link here.
Egg hunt at Ferme Sainte-Élie
It’s a 1h30 drive from Montreal, but it’s well worth it to spend a day in the countryside, and if the weather’s good, it’ll stretch the long weekend into a mini-vacation.
It’s April 18 to 21, and there will be two hunts – one for little chicks under 4 and one for big rabbits aged 4 and over. You’ll need to book here, too!
Montreal neighborhoods: an urban egg hunt
In addition to the Ecomuseum Zoo, several Montreal neighborhoods are also organizing their own Easter egg hunts…
3-12 year-olds can hunt for eggs with Pascale the hen at the Saint-Pierre library on the afternoon of April 19.
In Outremont, on Sunday, April 20, Beaubien Park will be the scene of a big egg hunt, with sections reserved by age and games for the whole family. Children aged 0-12 can register here.
On April 12, there will be an egg hunt at the Centre Communautaire de Loisirs Sainte-Catherine d’Alexandrie in the Ville-Marie district. The theme will be gardens, and registration is mandatory.