Things to Do this Easter in Lancaster, PA

Easter Bunny Trains

Strasburg Rail Road | April 7-9
Hop aboard the Easter Bunny Train at the Strasburg Rail Road. Welcome spring with a ride through beautiful farmland with Peter Cottontail as your conductor. Peter will delight boys and girls with an Easter surprise as he greets them on board this special train. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad | April 1-8
Ride the train while the Easter Bunny hands out candy to all the kids and offers photo opportunities throughout the event!

Stone Gables Estate | April 7-8
Enjoy a hippity hoppity narrated train excursion through the center of Stone Gables Estate on the Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster Railroad. On board the train children will receive a special surprise visit!

Egg-stra Special Easter

Kitchen Kettle Village | April 1-8
Reserve your spot for this special Easter event at Kitchen Kettle Village. In terms of food, tickets include a yummy lunch at the Harvest Cafe and a box of sweet treats from the Bake Shop. The little ones (10 and under) can partake in a VIP Egg Hunt and all kids can join in the village-wide scavenger hunt and take their photo with Yummie and the Easter Bunny!

Stone Gables Estate | April 7
Come celebrate Easter like never before at the historic Star Barn. Enjoy egg hunts, petting zoo, vendors, and endless photo opts. There is so much to do on this one day Easter Celebration event.

Dutch Wonderland | April 1
Hoppin' Into Royal Fun! Dutch Wonderland kicks off spring with a brand NEW seasonal egg-cellent event you don't want to miss! Join the kingdom as we celebrate the Easter Season in a truly royal way.

Bunny Village & Egg Hunts

Barnyard Kingdom | April 9-10, 15-16
Have breakfast with the Easter Bunny himself at the Barnyard Kingdom. The little ones will be bouncing with joy throughout the day. Be sure to visit the baby bunnies, chicks, and other animals while you are there.

Moses

Sight & Sound Theatres® | Check website for schedule
From the banks of the Nile River to the depths of the Red Sea, MOSES is a spectacular entertainment experience for the whole family!

Pet Photos with the Easter Bunny

That Pet Place | April 9, 16
Take your furry, feathered, or scaly best friend to get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny!

Free Easter Bunny Photos

Expressive Avenue | March 25, April 1, April 9
Get your photo taken with the Easter Bunny while you shop around Expressive Avenue's store that showcases over 60 small business vendors. Pets welcome!

Easter Brunch

If your family isn't keen on eating with the Bunny, there are plenty of restaurants around the county to visit for brunch. Review our list of the Best Weekend Brunch spots and be sure to look for special schedules, menus, and deals on each restaurant’s website.

Send a Taste of Lancaster to a Loved Ones

Lancaster Gift Box allows you to send your loved ones a taste of Lancaster. Their special curated boxes are the perfect gift to show those you care about that you're thinking of them this holiday.

Visiting E&A Candies is the perfect way to find Easter and spring themed candies that your family will sure to feel the love from Lancaster County in.

Get Easter Flowers

Lancaster has an abundance of plant and garden centers around the county. Stop by before Easter to get flowers for your garden or pick up a beautiful gift for a special someone!

Did You Know?

The famous symbols of the egg and the rabbit during Easter trace back to Germany and the Pennsylvania Dutch are responsible for bringing these traditions to America.

Easter traditions in Germany date back to the 1500s and the Pennsylvania Dutch who immigrated to the United States continued the tradition of the Oschter Haws or Easter Hare. If the children were good, the Easter Hare would lay colored eggs in the grass for them to discover. However, instead of baskets, the children would prepare special nests using their own bonnets or hats.

The custom did not catch on nationally until the early 1900s, for the idea of an egg-laying rabbit was a rather hard sell to non-Germanics.

Source: Lancaster Newspaper, “Easter Bunny, like the Belsnickle, owes American roots to the Pa. Dutch”