EDITOR'S NOTE: Inclement weather for the weekend of March 22-24 may have cancelled or postponed some of these events. Please follow up with event coordinators and social media pages to ensure correct dates and times.
Easter is on the early side this year, March 31, and businesses and organizations across Onslow County are preparing to put on their egg hunts and other themed events.
Check out more than 25 events happening in Onslow County leading up to the Easter holiday and consider being a part of the festivities.
Jacksonville Recreation & Parks Flashlight Egg Hunt
Jacksonville Recreation & Parks is holding a Flashlight Egg Hunt on Friday, March 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 910 Corbin Road in Jacksonville, the Northeast Creek Park Disc Golf Course.
The event is for ages 7-12 and is free to attend, though an adult must accompany the child.
For more information, visit Jacksonville Recreation & Parks on Facebook or call the department at 910-938-5312.
2024 Easter Egg-stravaganza at the Farm
Humphrey Farm is looking forward to bringing back the Easter Eggstravaganza this year, which will take place on Saturday, March 23, beginning at noon.
The event will include food trucks, including dessert/slushy trucks, vendors, a DJ, a bunny house, hayrides, bounce houses and egg drops. Tickets to attend are $7 and include everything but the bounce houses.
Egg drops will be divided by ages, and those who participate will receive a goodie bag with toys, stickers and candy. Those interested are asked to go ahead and purchase tickets ahead of time here.
Humphrey Farm is located at 522 W Willis Landing Road in Hubert. More information can be found at humphreyfarmnc.com, Humphrey Farm’s Facebook page, or by calling 910-548-4669.
Onslow County Parks & Recreation Easter Eggstravaganza
Onslow County Parks & Recreation is hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 2 p.m. at Onslow Pines Park, Hubert Bypass Park and Richlands Steed Park.
Egg hunts will take place across all three parks, and the Easter Bunny will even be on scene. There will also be a sensory inclusive egg hunt on Sunday, March 24, from noon to 2 p.m. at Stump Sound Park.
For more information, visit Onslow County Parks & Recreation on Facebook.
Jacksonville Recreation & Parks Easter Eggstravaganza
Jacksonville Recreation & Parks will also hold an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 100 Recreation Lane in Jacksonville.
The free event will include carnival games, egg hunts beginning at noon, and a visit with a very special guest. Children will be divided for the egg hunts by age groups, 1-2, 3-4 and 5-6.
The hunts will take place at the Commons Youth Ball Fields and parking will be available beside the fields or in front of the rec center. For more information, visit Jacksonville Recreation & Parks on Facebook or call the department at 910-938-5312.
Easter Peep Event at The Rustic Barn
The Rustic Barn at Half Moon is holding an Easter event on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 135 Batting Cage Trail in Jacksonville.
Admission is free but there will be a $10 parking fee. The event will include a 16-foot double lane inflatable slide, a bounce house, yard games, and a special play area for the youngsters.
Event stations will also be set up with various prices, including the Easter Bunny photo booth, a craft station, animal balloons and magic, a science station, face painting and fairy hair, a food court and several vendors.
The grand finale egg hunt will begin at 1:20 and hunters will each be given a small bag to collect nine eggs that will later be turned in for goodie bags. The hunt will be broken up into two groups, one for ages 2-5 and one for ages 6-10. There is also a golden egg for each hunt which will be turned in for a grand prize.
For more information, visit The Rustic Barn on Facebook or give them a call at 910-939-4945.
Cape Carteret Easter Egg Hunt
Mac Daddy’s is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt event on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m.
The event will take place on Mac Daddy’s driving range, located at 130 Golfin Dolphin Drive in Cape Carteret, and will include an Easter egg hunt for ages walking to 12. The hunt will feature over 15,000 eggs, including special golden ones with cash prizes.
A hot dog lunch will be provided by the Salvation Army of Cape Carteret and treats will also be available while supplies last from Cape Carteret Baptist Church. Additionally, the Easter Bunny will be on site and there will be activities organized by the Girl Scouts.
For more information, visit mymacdaddys.com, Mac Daddy’s on Facebook, or call them at 252-393-6565.
Holly Ridge Easter Egg Hunt
The town of Holly Ridge is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt event on Saturday, March 23, at 9:45 a.m.
The event will take place at 417 Kraft Street in Holly Ridge and will include a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny. There will also be two golden eggs hidden per age group.
For more information, call the town at 910-329-7081.
Half Moon Fire Department Easter Egg Hunt
Half Moon Fire Department’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m.
The department is located at 4835 Gum Branch Road and those who would like to participate are asked to bring their own baskets. There will also be an egg toss for ages 12 and older and prizes will be awarded.
For more information, visit Half Moon Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook or give them a call at 910-455-8760.
Hopping to Second Chances Easter Fundraising Market
Arise Animal Rescue is hosting an Easter fundraising market on Saturday, March 23, from noon to 5 p.m. at PetSmart in Jacksonville.
Get a professional picture taken with the Easter Bunny, shop more than 40 vendors, dine at one of various food trucks, send the kids to the bounce house, and adopt an animal at this family event.
For more information, visit Arise Animal Rescue on Facebook.
VFW Auxiliary #9983 Annual Easter Egg Hunt
VFW Auxiliary #9983 will hold their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 188 Hines Stump Sound Church Road in Holly Ridge.
There will be prizes for golden egg finders in each age group and treats for all participants. For more information, give the VFW a call at 910-329-1881.
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
Miller-Motte College Jacksonville is having a Breakfast with the Easter Bunny event on Saturday, March 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 105 New Frontier Way.
The event will include free food, crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny and open tours of the college.
Swansboro Soccer Association Easter Egg Hunt
Swansboro Soccer Association is holding an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. at 1202 Hammocks Beach Road, the SSA complex.
The event will include the Easter Bunny, food trucks, prizes, a bounce house and face painting. Ages six and under will hunt at noon and ages seven and up will hunt at 1 p.m.
Fishstrong Foundation’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Fishstrong Foundation, located at 3100 Freedom Way in Hubert, will hold its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will include vendors, a raffle, games, egg hunts and more.
Easter Bunny on the Firetruck
Turkey Creek Fire Department Station #2 in Sneads Ferry is holding an Easter event on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will include a pancake breakfast, story time, an egg hunt, photos, face painting, fairy hair, bounce houses and crafts. There will also be special performances from a local choir and theater group.
For more information, call the department at 910-327-7221 or visit them on Facebook.
Easter Egg Hunt and Food Truck Roundup
Harper Rose Boutique in Sneads Ferry is hosting their 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Food Truck Roundup on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stump Sound Park.
The event will include food trucks, vendors and egg hunts staggered by age groups. For more information, visit Harper Rose Boutique on Facebook.
Church Easter Egg Hunts
Several Onslow County churches are holding Easter egg hunts and events this month.
Bethany Baptist Church at 1077 Nine Mile Road in Richlands is holding an Easter Party & Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include games, free food, inflatables and more.
Tar Landing Baptist Church, located at 3884 Richlands Highway in Jacksonville, is also hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 23, at 10 a.m. So is Piney Valley United Methodist Church, located at 910 Pine Valley Road in Jacksonville. Theirs will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Easter Bunny will also be on site at Pine Valley for photo opportunities.
Kellum Baptist Church is also holding an egg hunt on March 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, complete with story time, crafts, games, and of course, an egg hunt for children through grade five.
Enon Chapel Baptist Church, located at 313 Freedom Way in Midway Park, will hold an Easter Egg-Stravaganza on Saturday, March 23, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Toddlers through fifth graders are invited to attend with their families for an afternoon of games, crafts, a bounce house, egg hunts, snacks, prizes and more. To skip the line and register online, click here.
Finally, Rhythm Church will put on its 4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Northside High School on Saturday, March 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be a food truck, refreshments, games and staggered egg hunts.
GEICO Military mEGGahunt
MCCS Lejeune-New River is holding an Easter event on Sunday, March 24, at 1 p.m. at Marston Pavilion, located at 730 Seth Williams Boulevard aboard Camp Lejeune.
There will be a DJ, an egg hunt, arts & crafts, activities and more. The event is sponsored by GEICO Military, Marine Federal Credit Union and Duke Energy. For more information and to see the full schedule of events, visit lejeunenewriver.usmc-mccs.org.
Swansboro Easter Egg Hunt
The town of Swansboro is putting on an Easter Egg Hunt event at the Swansboro Rec Center on Thursday, March 28, at 6 p.m.
Children in grades pre-K through fifth grade are invited, and parents are asked to bring their child a basket for egg gathering. Parents are also encouraged to bring cameras for photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny.
For those interested, children can be registered individually. Parents do not need to register, and the event is free. For more information, call 910-326-2600, or visit the Swansboro Rec Center at 830 Main Street Extension.
Easter Egg Hunt at Lazy Day Farm
Lazy Day Farm, located at 599 Bear Creek Road in Hubert, is putting on an Easter Egg Hunt event on Friday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event is the farm’s opening day event and will include multiple egg hunts, vendors, food trucks, a bounce house, petting zoo and more. The egg hunt is free to join but the bounce house and petting zoo will cost $7.
To get tickets, visit lazydayfarm.com. For more information, visit Lazy Day Farm on Facebook or give them a call at 843-591-5235.
The Salvation Army of Jacksonville Easter Festival
The Salvation Army of Jacksonville is putting on its 5th Annual Easter Festival on Saturday, March 30, from noon to 2 p.m.
The event, which will take place at 535 Bell Fork Road in Jacksonville, will include games, food and prizes. For more information, give The Salvation Army of Jacksonville a call at 910-333-0453.
A2C Easter Egg Hunt
Antique 2 Chic Vendor Market will be putting on an Easter event on Saturday, March 30, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Participants must have a ticket, but they are free, and can be picked up by visiting Antique 2 Chic at 2501 Onslow Drive in Jacksonville before March 25. There are 40 spaces per hunt.
Ages walking to five will hunt from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. with ages 6-10 following. Search for the extra-large golden eggs to win a special Easter basket. The Easter Bunny will also be on scene from 9 a.m. to noon for photo opportunities.
For more information, visit Antique 2 Chic on Facebook or give them a call at 910-548-2234.
Photos with the Bunny
As per usual, the Easter Bunny is at the Jacksonville Mall this month for visits and photos.
From now through March 31, visit the bunny in Center Court at the Jacksonville Mall Monday-Friday from noon to 8 p.m. with a break from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a break from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. with a break from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Good Friday and March 30’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Digital photo packages are available with options to purchase prints, and reservations are encouraged but not required.
For more information, call VIP Photos at 281-712-2878 or visit vipholidayphotos.com.
Metro Diner Heat-And-Serve Easter Feasts
Metro Diner in Jacksonville is serving pescatarian specials until Easter, including the Teriyaki Salmon Bowl, Shrimp Platter and Fish and Chips.
Metro Diner is also offering Heat-And-Serve Easter Feasts. The meals will serve one, four or eight people and are available for curbside pickup and delivery. The feast includes a choice of roasted turkey or baked ham, as well as mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, a choice of cornbread stuffing, mac and cheese or street corn, cranberry sauce and Hawaiian dinner rolls.
Those interested can also add a garden salad as an additional side and/or bread pudding for dessert.
The deadline to order is Friday, March 29 and feasts cost $16.49 for one, $61.99 for four or $119.49 for eight. To place an order, visit metrodiner.com/easter-feast.
Duck’s Annual Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet
Duck’s Grille & Bar will have their annual Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet on Easter Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The cost is $39.50 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Reservations-only accepted for groups of eight or more. For more information, call Duck’s at 910-455-9128.
Did we forget your event? Feel free to reach out and we’ll add your event to the list! Reporter Morgan Starling can be reached at mstarling@jdnews.com.
