Of course there’ll be bunnies
JUSTIN RUDD did not set out to become Long Beach’s Easter weekend activities maven. It just turned out that way. “I just love Easter,” Rudd says. “And I love celebrating it with two- and four-legged creatures.”
Southern Californians’ celebrations of Easter are as varied as the population itself. Some will attend Sunday services at the Hollywood Bowl, the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove or the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles, while others will go to their local places of worship. But the Easter holiday also has a busy secular side.
Rudd started his Haute Dog Easter Parade seven years ago. About 500 dressed-up canines will strut up and down a 12-block sidewalk route along 2nd Street in Belmont Shore in Long Beach on Sunday. The parade begins and ends at Livingston Park, and the two top dogs win free food for a year, with other prizes for the runners-up. This year the event will also feature a pet adoption fair. Proceeds go to animal-related charities.
On Saturday, Rudd is also sponsoring an egg hunt on the beach in Long Beach, but to participate, adults, teens and older children must volunteer for a 30-minute beach cleanup at 10 that morning. The hunt -- which is not suitable for younger children, Rudd says -- will begin about 10:40 a.m., and each of the more than 2,500 eggs will have something inside: $1, $5 and $10 bills, coins, candy, gift certificates, flower seeds and a grand prize of two tickets from JetBlue Airways. Though trash bags and gloves are provided for the cleanup, egg hunters are advised to bring their own Easter baskets.
At the Los Angeles Zoo, thousands of children and their parents are expected to attend Big Bunny’s Spring Fling, Friday through Sunday. The annual event will feature bunny-related activities, live entertainment and, of course, the zoo’s animal collection. Big Bunny will be joined by other fictional costumed characters from television and film. Photos with Big Bunny will be available for $5, and children will be able to touch and learn about the zoo’s live rabbit. Dan Crow and the Spring Fling Puppet Show will provide musical entertainment each day.
Meanwhile on Saturday, the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Arcadia will hold its Great Easter Egg Hunt. The day will include a variety of activities for children such as nature crafts, “eco games” and photo opportunities. Easter baskets will be provided for every child with paid admission (no outside baskets will be allowed).
And in Burbank on Saturday, there’ll be the new Spring Egg Extravaganza at McCambridge Park. It replaces the Easter Eggsplosion, a family concert featuring Radio Disney celebrities and egg hunt at Johnny Carson Park that was co-sponsored by Radio Disney and the city of Burbank for the last several years. Radio Disney is no longer involved, but there will be games, prizes and a free egg hunt for children ages 1 through 10.
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