What is there to do on Easter in Lexington KY? The Ultimate Guide

Easter in Lexington is an egg-cellent time for family fun, with tons of great traditions, events, food and activities to bring the spirit of spring. This comprehensive guide will give you all the inside tips for celebrating Easter in Lexington, KY. Let‘s hop to it!

Popular Easter Traditions in Lexington

Lexington has delightful long-standing Easter traditions that you and your family can take part in:

Church Services

• Over 80% of Lexington families attend a church service on Easter Sunday. Many also go on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
• Lexington has over 300 beautiful churches to pick from for your Easter service, many with special masses, plays and concerts.
• Sunrise services are big here too. Keeneland Racecourse expects over 5000 attendees at their annual outdoor Easter sunrise service.

Egg Hunts

• Lexington hosts over 50 public Easter egg hunts every year across parks, rec centers, churches and more.
• The largest is Jacobson Park‘s Eggstravaganza with over 25,000 eggs and massive inflatable slides and games.
• If you have little ones, arrive early and head straight for the marked toddler section when the hunt begins. No one likes to see a baby go home empty-handed!

Photos with the Easter Bunny

• Almost every mall and many parks feature photo ops with the Easter Bunny throughout March and April.
• I recommend going on a weekday morning right when they open to avoid long waits. And bring a basket or bubbles for some extra adorable shots!
• New this year is Paw Pics with the Easter Bunny at Fayette Mall on Monday evenings where you can get photos with your furry friend.

Easter Parade & Bonnet Contest

• Lexington‘s annual Easter Parade takes place on Main Street with spectators cheering on creative bonnets of all kinds.
• Try making your bonnets together as a fun craft for the kids. Go all out with ribbons, flowers, feathers and more!
• Prizes are awarded for the best bonnets in both the adult and children‘s categories.

So get ready to celebrate Easter in classic Lexington style!

Major Easter Events in Lexington This Year

Mark these top Easter happenings on your calendar and invite the whole family:

Event	Location	Date/Time	Details
Eggstravaganza	Jacobson Park	April 8, 11am-2pm	25,000 eggs! Inflatable slides, games, crafts, photos with Easter Bunny.
Sunrise Service & Breakfast	Churchill Park	April 9, 6:30am service, 7:30am breakfast	Non-denominational outdoor sunrise service followed by free community breakfast.
Easter Parade & Bonnet Contest	Main Street downtown	April 9, 10am parade, 11am bonnet judging	Annual parade and contest for best handmade bonnets. Prizes awarded.
Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt	The Carrick House	April 9, seatings start 10:30am, 1pm hunt	Champagne brunch in a historic mansion followed by egg hunt on grounds. Reservations required.

With so many options, you‘re sure to find the perfect Easter events for your family right here in Lexington. Time to start planning!

Egg Hunts Galore for Kids of All Ages

With over 50 egg hunts in Lexington, there‘s an almost endless supply of Easter fun to be had! Here are some of my top picks for different ages and abilities:

Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 1-4)

• Jacobson Park – Designated toddler section and sensory-friendly hunt before main event
• Southland Christian Church – Areas for walkers, toddlers and babies
• Connie Griffith Rec Center – Indoor hunt for little ones

Elementary Age Kids (Ages 5-9)

• Lancaster Aquatic Center – Over 10,000 eggs hidden around grounds and in shallow water
• Lykins Park – Massive hunt over open fields perfect for ages 5-9
• Kentucky Horse Park – Eggs scattered across the park‘s sprawling acres

Preteens and Teens (Ages 10-15)

• Immanuel Baptist Church – Unique night hunt using glow sticks and flashlights
• The Lexington School – Youth hunt exclusively for kids with special needs
• Crossroads Church – Over 100,000 eggs spread over indoor and outdoor areas

All Ages Hunts

• Masterson Station Park – Eggs as far as the eye can see here!
• Wellington Park – Hunt eggs then enjoy the park‘s playground and walking trails
• Shillito Park – BYOB (bring your own basket) to collect over 5,000 prize eggs

Check for age recommendations and accessibility info when choosing the perfect hunt. Now let‘s go find some eggs!

Getting Photos with the Easter Bunny

Don‘t forget to capture the memories by taking photos with the Easter Bunny during his visits to Lexington! Here are the top spots to get your pic:

• Fayette Mall – Pets welcome on Monday evenings!
• Jacobson Park during Eggstravaganza – No cost for photos
• Downtown after the Easter Parade – Free photos against beautiful courthouse backdrop
• Bass Pro Shops – Reserve your photo session online in advance
• Walmart – Low cost photo packages and no appointments needed

I recommend bringing a basket, coloring book, bubbles or other props to make the photos extra cute. And if you have wiggly little ones, try visiting earlier in the day before they get tired.

Now say cheese and get the whole family in there! Those photos with the Easter Bunny will be keepsakes you‘ll treasure for years.

Enjoying Lexington‘s Parks for Spring Fun

Lexington has some truly magnificent parks that shine during the springtime. Here are a few ways to soak up the season:

• Have a picnic – Pack up your Easter feast and eat at tables or on blankets under blooming trees. Don‘t forget the dessert!

• Host an egg roll – Gather hard boiled eggs and have races at parks to see whose egg rolls farthest without cracking.

• Go on a nature egg hunt – Hide plastic colorful eggs along walking trails and let kids discover them as you take in the wildflowers and scenery.

• Look for programs – Many parks like Raven Run and McConnell Springs have special nature events and classes for Easter week.

We love Jacobson Park, Shillito Park, and Masterson Station Park for picnics and egg activities. Wherever you choose, get out and enjoy Lexington‘s gorgeous parks this Easter!

Craft Your Own Easter Bonnets

As you get ready for the annual downtown Easter Parade, have fun crafting bonnets at home:

• Simple headband bonnet – Hot glue or sew ribbons, flowers, and other decor onto a plastic or fabric headband as a base.

• Felt floppy hat – Adorn a felt hat from the craft store with ribbons, pom poms, fabric shapes and other embellishments using fabric glue or needle and thread.

• Paper plate bonnet – Decorate two paper plates and staple together with elastic string to make a bonnet kids can wear and customize.

• Add Kentucky flair – Incorporate Kentucky bluegrass on your bonnets with touches of blue and white, horse silhouettes, blue bows and more.

Let the kids help brainstorm ideas and decorate their own bonnets however they‘d like – the wackier the better! Constructing your bonnets together will create wonderful memories.

Do-It-Yourself Easter Decorating

Planning some fun Easter crafts and decorations? Here are a few DIY ideas you can make affordably:

Egg wreath – Hot glue colorful plastic eggs onto a straw wreath base. Accent with faux greenery, florals and ribbon. Hang on your front door to welcome in spring.

Bunny centerpiece – Fill a decorative bowl or basket with plastic grass, then nestle in stuffed bunnies and plastic eggs. The kids can help decorate.

Egg garland – Cut egg shapes from felt or construction paper. String them together with ribbon to make festive garlands for railings, windows, walls and fireplaces.

Easter tree – Adorn a mini potted tree with painted egg ornaments and small Easter toys and plushies.

Check Pinterest and craft stores for even more inspiration to decorate your home on a budget this Easter! The holiday memories made will be priceless.

Easter Meals, Treats and Gift Ideas

Bring some delightful flavors, treats and gifts into your family‘s Easter celebrations this year:

Easter Meals

Entrees

• Rosemary and lemon roasted chicken or pork
• Brown sugar glazed ham
• Parmesan crusted lamb chops

Sides

• Buttery mashed potatoes
• Honey roasted carrots
• Asparagus with lemon
• Cheesy scalloped potatoes

Breads

• Braided challah bread
• Golden pull-apart dinner rolls
• Irish soda bread

Easter Desserts

• Red velvet cupcakes decorated as bunnies or chicks
• Lemon meringue pie with fluffy whipped topping
• A gorgeous carrot cake with cream cheese frosting
• Chocolate peanut butter eggs

Easter Basket Stuffers

• Chocolate bunnies, caramel eggs and jelly beans
• Spring-themed toys like bubbles, kites and sidewalk chalk
• Stickers, coloring books and stuffed animals
• Toy cars, bouncy balls and other fun knick-knacks

I hope these food and gift ideas inspire you to make this Easter extra sweet for your loved ones. The smiles on their faces will be the best reward.

Easter Church Services in Lexington

On Easter Sunday, over 80% of Lexington families will attend a church service. Here are a few popular options:

Catholic Churches

• Cathedral of Christ the King
• Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary

Baptist Churches

• Porter Memorial Baptist
• Immanuel Baptist Church

Methodist Churches

• Centenary United Methodist
• Trinity Hill United Methodist

Presbyterian Churches

• Maxwell Street Presbyterian

Check your own church‘s website for Easter service times, or visit a new church to change things up. Many hold special masses and concerts on the days leading up to Easter as well.

Don‘t forget to have the kids dress up in their Easter Sunday best!

Plan an Egg-citing Easter in Lexington

As you can see, there are so many fantastic ways to enjoy the Easter season with your whole family right here in Lexington. Take part in time-honored traditions, signature events, crafting, feasting and more. Whether you‘re dyeing eggs, hunting for baskets, or snapping pics with the bunny, create special memories together.

I hope this guide provides plenty of "egg-spiration" to plan an egg-cellent Easter. Now it‘s time get cracking on all the possibilities in Lexington! Happy Easter, friends.