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Easter celebrations, parades, and events happening in New Orleans this weekend

Parades, bar hops, egg hunts, and more

March 31, 2013, Pigeon Steppers in an Easter parade in the Uptown neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Corbis via Getty Images

Easter weekend is always a festive time in New Orleans, coinciding with the Crescent City Classic and, this year, the stoner-centric 4/20 celebration as well. So whether you’re running the 10K race, heading to Mass, or just grabbing a beer at your neighborhood bar, expect bunny suits and bonnets galore. Here’s a list of seven Easter events taking place this weekend, April 20 and 21.

Saturday, April 21

NORD’s Easter Eggstravaganza on the Lafitte Greenway

This free Easter egg hunt takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Lafitte Greenway’s Great Lawn (2000 Lafitte Street). Expect a space walk, candy-filled eggs, and a visit from the Easter Bunny at this all-ages, BYOB (bring your own basket) event. To volunteer or get more info, click here.

10th Annual Easter Keg Hunt

This adult scavenger hunt leads teams on a 4- to 5-mile route to a beer- and live music-filled celebration. Wear your most festive Easter attire and comfy shoes. The hunt starts at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at The Tchoup Yard (405 Third Street). Tickets cost $20 or $25 the day of the event, and proceeds benefit Healthy Gulf’s mission for clean water.

11th Annual NOLA Bunarchy Bar Hop

Hundreds of revelers will don rabbit ears and costumes and gather at Marie’s Bar (2483 Burgundy Street) in the Marigny at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 20 for this Louisiana SPCA fundraiser event. From there, they will hop to Mimi’s in the Marigny (2601 Royal Street), St. Roch Tavern (1200 St Roch Avenue), AllWays Lounge (2240 St Claude Avenue), and Poor Boys Bar (1328 St Bernard Avenue). Bunarchy passes are $10.

Sunday, April 21

Historic French Quarter Easter Parade

The earliest and most traditional of Easter Sunday’s parades, this procession of convertibles, mule-drawn carriages, and festively attired walkers departs from Antoine’s Restaurant (713 St Louis Street) at 9:45 a.m. and meanders to St. Louis Cathedral in time for 11 a.m. mass.

Flickr Vision

36th Annual Chris Owens Easter Parade

Led by octogenarian showgirl extraordinaire Chris Owens, the 36th Annual Chis Owens French Quarter Easter Parade departs from the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel at the intersection of St. Louis and Royal streets. It rolls to Royal and Canal streets, makes its way to St. Philip Street, and returns to the Omni for dancing and a Champagne brunch. Expect floats, marching bands, and tons of Easter-centric throws.

20th Annual Gay Easter Parade

This gorgeous pastel assembly of carriages, brass bands, drag queens, and Easter bunnies rolls from Louis Armstrong Park (701 N. Rampart Street) at 4:30 p.m. and loops through the French Quarter, passing by many venerable gay bars along the way. The family-friendly event rolls down St. Ann, turns left on Bourbon Street and heads to Esplanade Avenue. It continues down Royal Street to St. Louis Street before turning back onto Rampart Street and ending at GrandPre’s (834 Rampart Street).

Easter brunches galore

Jazz brunches are a local staple, and during the holiday weekend, many of them get an Easter-centric upgrade. The Country Club’s (634 Louisa Street) Easter brunch includes entrees ranging from polenta and eggs to chilaquiles. Compère Lapin (535 Tchoupitoulas St.) rolls out Easter specials including deviled Scotch eggs and potato gnocchi, while The Roosevelt (130 Roosevelt Way) is putting together a brunch buffet. Be sure to check out the boozy brunch rundown on our sister site, Eater NOLA.