Easter Spirit Gets Hopping a Day Early : Holiday: From Ventura Harbor Village to a Simi Valley park, celebrations are held, including egg hunts and bunnies. More events are planned today.

He wasn’t expecting to see the Easter bunny at--of all places--Ventura Harbor Village on Saturday afternoon. But once he did, 2-year-old Michael Crosby was enraptured.

With a wide grin and outstretched arms, he ran straight to the 5-foot-5-inch rabbit and hugged. And hugged again. And, well, again.

As the bunny worked its way through the harbor, Michael gamboled after for a good 10 minutes until his mother, Denise Crosby of Northridge, rescued the bunny rabbit. Crosby and her son were visiting Crosby’s aunt, who lives in Ventura.

“Hi! Hi, Easter bunny!” exclaimed Sean Foley, 4, of Thousand Oaks, who left his hamburger long enough to scamper over and collect a coloring book and a pat on the head.

The Easter bunny’s solo appearance Saturday at Ventura Harbor Village was but a foreshadowing of events planned there today. Starting at 11 a.m., egg hunts, a petting zoo and a seven-piece jazz band are scheduled.

And, of course, the bunny will be back.

On the other side of the county, after an egg hunt at Rancho Simi Community Park on Saturday morning, families scattered across its grounds to feed ducks paddling about the pond, play on the swing sets and wait for face-painting and free pictures with the Easter bunny.

As Kenny Romine, 21 months, sat on the rabbit’s lap waiting to be photographed, the Simi Valley boy looked more perplexed and inquisitive than anything else, his tiny brows furrowing. And once the shutter snapped, he remained and stared at the strange creature with the big head.

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Kenny’s parents, Dennis and Anne Romine, said the beautiful weather and egg hunt combined for a perfect respite from--what else?--taxes. “We finally got our income taxes out of the way, so now we can really relax,” Dennis Romine said.

Every 10th person seemed to be wielding a camcorder at the Simi Valley park, and the mood was appropriately festive.

“Easter is my favorite holiday,” said Dianne Arechiga of Simi Valley. “I love the spring. It’s nice and warm out, and it’s really for the kids.”

While some people will spend Easter Sunday relaxing, for others it’s often a great deal of work: Hide the Easter eggs, put together the baskets, throw a turkey in the oven and make it to church.

All of the above were on Cheryl Jenkins’ agenda for today--and more. It’s also her brother’s 34th birthday. “Oh, I can’t wait,” the Simi Valley mother said Saturday about today’s expected frantic pace.

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Fortunately, however, Jenkins said her children, Latasha, 8, and Annisa, 2, helped keep her on schedule by waking her up early Saturday. “But I’m off Monday, which is good because I know it’s going to be tough for me tomorrow,” Jenkins said as her children had their faces painted along with the bunnies.

Twenty-pound turkeys and other food for 10 people notwithstanding, folks at the Simi Valley egg hunt and Ventura Harbor Village looked content and relaxed Saturday.

Well, almost everyone.

“The Easter bunny is dying in here,” said Penny Churl, 39, of Ventura, who spent the afternoon in a heavy bunny suit walking around the harbor. “It’s sweat city.”