Special services, festivals to mark Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday dawned cool and cloudy in Los Angeles ahead of several events scheduled in and around downtown to mark the Christian holiday, including a brunch of ham and jambalaya for the homeless, egg hunts and games for children, and special services in both English and Spanish for the faithful.

At the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Archbishop Jose Gomez will preside over Easter Sunday Mass at 10 a.m.. The mass is expected to last roughly an hour.

“Easter is a great day filled with hope and joy for us,” Archbishop Gomez said in a statement Sunday ahead of the service. “Christ is risen and we know we will rise with him! Easter tells us that God’s love is stronger than death. And that Jesus is on our side.”

A Spanish-language Mass is also scheduled for 12:30 p.m., along with a bilingual mass at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The 10 a.m. mass will be streamed live online at https://www.la-archdiocese.org.

A few blocks away, at the Midnight Mission in Skid Row near Sixth and San Pedro streets, a New Orleans-inspired meal to mark both Easter and Passover will take place starting at 10 a.m. for an estimated 2,500 people in or near homelessness.

Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is expected to attend, along with actor Dick Van Dyke and other celebrities. The nonprofit is also handing out clothing and hosting an Easter Village with candy baskets and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny for children.

And later in the day, the New City Church will host its annual Easter Fest at Grand Hope Park, an event that raises money for programs helping homeless children. The festival includes face painting, games, bounce houses and several different Easter egg hunts for kids of different ages. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 9th and Hope streets.

Tickets for a family of up to seven people cost $10, but hardship assistance is available for families who email EasterFest@newcitychurchla.com.

Sunday is expected to be cloudy and cooler than Saturday, with highs in the low 70s around the Los Angeles area, said National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Sukup. Clouds are expected to break up later in the afternoon, though it may remain partly cloudy.