By Barbara Davis | Staff Writer
A collaboration of faith, family, and fun will commence this weekend, as Southeast Texans gather in celebration of the Easter holiday.
Christians worldwide celebrate the Easter holiday beginning with Good Friday, the day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and ending Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, as it is often referred to, in celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Faith
With more than 25,000 churches state-wide, there will be no shortage of selection when it comes to Easter services in Southeast Texas.
The Catholic Diocese of Beaumont has announced the 24th annual Golden Triangle Good Friday Cross Walk will begin at 8 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church and is set to end at approximately 2:45 p.m. with rest stops and prayer stations along the way, an Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 8, and Resurrection Sunday mass on April 9.
Alternately, Wesley Methodist Church welcomes community members to its Good Friday service, April 7, at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary and will gather for a day of praise and worship on Easter Sunday with sunrise service beginning at 6:30 a.m. in the breezeway, a traditional service at 8 a.m. in the sanctuary, contemporary service in the Praise Center at 9 a.m., and conclude with traditional service in the sanctuary at 10:30 a.m.
For those desiring an interactive look into the holiday, Praise Church Beaumont will offer a “Good Friday Experience,” a 60-minute interactive-guided walk through the last days of Jesus and Easter services at 5 p.m. April 8, as well as 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. on April 9.
Family reservations for the Good Friday experience can be made online at praisechurch.tv/easter/.
In addition to the aforementioned, there are a variety of services in a multitude of denominations available throughout Southeast Texas, all of which are prepared to welcome community members with open arms.
Family
While family refers to a multitude of dynamics both big and small, a gathering of loved ones around a delicious meal is a tradition as old as Easter itself. Backyards, parks, and beaches tend to fill up for Easter weekend, as families often choose a more casual approach to the celebration, throwing their favorite meat on the BBQ pit and enjoying outdoor activities as a unit.
Dye-stained sweet snagging hands are often one of the best parts of the holiday, as families gather following a mystery-filled morning of surprises and scavenger hunts.
For families desiring a more grown-up experience, reservations at the MCM Elegante Easter Brunch are available starting at 10 a.m. April 9 and will feature traditional Easter dinner offerings such as Virginia-baked ham, roast beef, blackened catfish or lighter brunch items such as spinach and goat cheese frittatas.
For those looking to lose the littles, hop on over to Little Woodrow’s in Beaumont for an adult Easter egg hunt April 8.
Fun
Fun is what you make it and there is much to be had in Southeast Texas.
Beaumont offers a multitude of events for the entire family, including an enormous 25,000 egg hunt at the 11th annual Community-wide Easter Egg Hunt at Roger’s Park sponsored by Beaumont’s First Baptist Church.
A local Easter staple, the hunt will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature six separate fields by age group, an adapted special blessings field and a big bicycle giveaway. Children should arrive ready to run with their baskets in hand.
Following the Rogers Park event, families can make the short hop over to the John Jay French Museum grounds for the sixth annual Easter egg hunt, where thousands of eggs will be filled with treats and prizes, and the first one hundred kids will be able to make a craft before visiting with the main man himself, as the Easter bunny arrives for parent photos. Considering all ages, the event space will be divided into four separate areas, with gates set to open at 1 p.m. Tickets to the John Jay French Museum event are $5 each for anyone over the age of 4.
No matter the faith or the family dynamic, exciting options abound for area residents looking to hop outside of their normal routine and join in on egg-citing community-wide plans.
Because of the inclement weather, patrons are asked to contact the hosting venue in case their event is canceled.
Southeast Texas Easter Events
April 6-7
Easter Games & Goodie Bags
1-4 p.m., provided by Exceptional Emergency Center
Next to the Easter Bunny in Parkdale Mall
Beaumont
Thursday, April 6
YMCA Swimming Pool Egg Hunt
4:30 p.m., 6760 9th Ave.
Port Arthur
Friday, April 7
24th Annual Golden Triangle
Good Friday Cross Walk
8 a.m., St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Ave.
Beaumont
City of Orange Easter Egg Hunt
9 a.m., Riverside Pavilion, 708 Simmons Dr.
Orange
South Park Community Easter Egg Hunt
2:30 p.m., Alice Keith Park, 4050 Reed St.
Beaumont
Colorado Canyon Easter Egg Hunt
5:30 p.m., Colorado Canyon, 6110 Folsom Dr.
Beaumont
Saturday, April 8
Community Easter Egg Hunt & Giveaway
11 a.m., Rogers Park, 1455 Dowlen Rd.
Beaumont
Spring Eggstravaganza
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Beaumont Children’s Museum
701 Main St., Beaumont
John Jay French Museum Easter Egg Hunt
1 p.m., John Jay French Museum, 3025 French Rd.
Beaumont
Gator Egg Hunt
11 a.m., Gator Country, 21159 FM 365
Beaumont
Kids Easter Egg-stravaganza
Children with intellectual or developmental disabilities
10 a.m.-12 p.m., The Arc of Greater Beaumont, 4330 Westridge Ln.
Beaumont
Dream Eggs-Xtreme Hunt
10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Dream Center SETX, 3890 FM 3514
Beaumont
Easter Bunny Photos & Treats
1-4 p.m., DAR Event Studio, 1735 College St.
Beaumont
Easter Egg Hunt at Lions Park
10:30 a.m., Lions Park, 455 S. Ann St.
Sour Lake
Community Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m., Lumberton City Park, 1300 FM 421
Lumberton
Easter Fest
11 a.m., First Baptist Church, 25304 FM 124
Hamshire
Easter Eggstravaganza
4-6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1206 S. Main
Lumberton
Rotary Bunny Run 5K & 1K Egg Hunt
8 a.m., BC Elementary, 1035 W. Round Bunch Rd.
Bridge City
Breakfast with the Bunny
8:30 a.m., The Temple, 4101 SH 73
Port Arthur
Easter Fest
9 a.m., Dornbos Park, 2301 Avenue H
Nederland
Easter Egg Hunt
Hosted by Calvary Tabernacle China
12 p.m., Chucky Seaman Park, 132 Stewart Ave.
China
Sunday, April 9
Easter Celeball
2 p.m., Charlton Pollard Park, 2060 Irving Ave.
Beaumont