Ahhhhh, Easter.

As a Baptist kid growing up, it was all about new Easter dresses, overcrowded churches and spiral ham for dinner. But my most favorite activity (next to hearing a really big choir sing the Hallelujah Chorus, of course) was the annual Easter Egg Hunt with my brother, Rob. For hours, we’d hide and re-hide and re-re-hide eggs all the day long until we’d have to use flashlights to find the last of our hard-boiled wonders. (Invariably, we’d sniff out that last, lone egg in July by the firewood pile.)

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A few entities in Laguna Beach are honoring that timeworn tradition and, believe me; it took some huntin’ of my own to scratch these Easter Egg Hunts up. (For the record, neighboring Dana Point is serving up SATURDAY Easter Egg Hunts starting at 9 a.m., at both Sea Canyon Park and Pines Park with games, face painting, petting zoos and a really huge (possibly scary) Easter Bunny, but last time I checked, the name of this blog-o-mine is “Laguna Beach,” so I’m officially not supposed to be mentioning Dana Point.)

Onward with the Easter Egg Hunts I’ve found in Laguna Beach:

Sunday, 11:00 a.m., Laguna Beach High School baseball field

By far the largest (and free) is the very popular Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Laguna Beach American Legion Post 222 and the Women’s Auxiliary. Kids nine years of age and younger are welcome to participate. If you arrive before 12:30 p.m., you’ll get to hang with the Easter Bunny and opt for photos with the affable critter.

Sunday, through early afternoon, French 75 Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt

Frankly, I never thought of the French participating in Easter Egg Hunts (or, if my college French still serves me, ahem, “Chasse Aux Oeufs de Pâques”) but our renowned Laguna Beach French 75 restaurant is offering a 3-course Easter brunch ($40/person) and a Little Bunnies Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt ($15/child) on the premises. I think just watching kids scavenge for eggs and treats in and around this sophisticated restaurant would be half the fun. Grownups get a chance to win an Easter basket worth $750 in treats, including a night at the Surf & Sand Hotel, but I don’t think you grownups get to go crawling under chairs and tables looking for that one. Sorry. Reservations for French 75 are a phone call away: (949) 494-8444.

Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., The Montage Hotel Grand Ballroom “Eggstravaganza”

I love the Montage because it’s always been so resident-friendly here in Laguna Beach. I must say that, this time around, you’ll fare better on the whole Easter theme (egg hunts, petting zoo, balloon artists, custom baskets, etc. all weekend long) if you’re a registered kid GUEST at the Montage this weekend.

BUT, there are still a variety of Easter Egg Hunts and visits from the “Montage Easter Bunny” (if anyone should qualify for their own bunny, it should be the Montage) in the Grand Ballroom. This is an annual, very lively event with a 12-station holiday buffet, live jazz, multiple Easter Egg hunts, photo opps and that Montage Bunny I just mentioned with his friends.  Kids 4-12 years of age can participate and receive the special child’s buffet pricing. This is not an inexpensive outing – adults are $95 per, children are $40 per, but the event regularly pulls in repeat clientele, so they’ve got to be doing something right. You’ll need Montage Ballroom reservations at (949) 715-6420.

This is all I’ve been able to find for Easter Egg Hunts in Laguna Beach this Easter holiday. If you know of other public egg-hunting events, by all means contact me fast at DianeArmitage@cox.net and I’ll get the word out. Enjoy your Easter weekend in Laguna Beach!

© 2011, Diane Armitage, www.LagunaBeachBest.com

P.S. Hey, don’t forget to print and take my blog entry to Laguna Nursery for 10% off any easter lily, flowering plant, shrub, herb or anything else you can find at Ruben Flores’ fabulous plant nursery. The special runs all weekend for my Laguna Beach Best readers.  See: Coupon Laguna Nursery