Easter Sunday this year falls on April 1. Since its origin, Easter has been a time of traditional celebrations and customs. It’s also a time for a variety of fun activities for the little ones, including egg hunts, and egg painting.

Below is a roundup for Easter fun for families and little ones in Beijing for this coming Sunday. For more events that may not included in this list, please check our event page.

2018 Holy Week/Easter Catholic Masses in English, March 28-April 1

All ages. Our Lady of China Catholic Community invites you to attend their 2018 Holy Week/Easter English language Catholic masses. Holy Week (registered foreign passport holders only): March 29 7pm, March 30 7pm, March 31 5pm (Shunyi). April 1 Easter Sunday: 10am Dongzhimen Area (registered foreign passport holders only), 11.30am, 4pm St. Joseph’s Wangfujing Church (open to all). Free. 10am-4pm. Visit the website for more information. 

Easter in Beijing, March 30-April 1

All ages. This Easter, the non-denominational Beijing International Christian Fellowship will have gatherings on Good Friday (March 30) and Easter Day (April 1) at their 21st Century campus, near Solana. Free. 7.50-9pm. For more information you can check the website or email information@bicf.org. Beijing International Christian Fellowship.

Easter-Themed Peninsula Afternoon Tea, March 30-April 2

All ages. The Peninsula Beijing invites family guests to enjoy a four-day Easter weekend from March 30 to April 2 where they can share a special Easter Afternoon Tea, as well as seasonally inspired sweet delights crafted by French Executive Pastry Chef Frederic Moreau. As an extra treat, junior guests enjoying afternoon tea with their parents on Easter Sunday can join a traditional Easter Egg Hunt through the hotel. RMB 398-598. Starts at 2.30pm. Contact 8516 2888 ext 6764 for more information. Peninsula Hotel.

Easter Brunch by the Great Wall, March 31-April 1

All ages. Come out to the fresh air at Mutianyu for their Easter-themed event: Easter egg hunts for the kids, a country buffet with home-baked goodies and eggs to order, and live jazz. You can also come out the night before and stay in one of their custom guest homes or a room at their retreat, and wake up to Easter sunrise at the Great Wall. RMB 2,688 (Includes private transfers from/to Beijing for two people, a Great Wall view room, and Easter Brunch for two at the Brickyard). 11am-6pm. For reservations please contact 6162 6506, or email info@brickyardatmutianyu.com. The Brickyard Retreat.

Easter Egg Hunt, April 1

Aged 2-10. Comptoirs de France Bakery are pleased to announce that they will hold their traditional Easter Egg Hunt from now until March 31. Buy any Easter product from one of their shops, and you and your children (2-10 years old) will get a chance to win an invitation card to the event. Each parent can bring two children. 9am-noon. Check the website for more information. East Lake Villas Gardens.

Family Easter at the Kerry Hotel, April 1

All ages. Kerry has prepared a fun-filled day at both Adventure Zone and at their Terrace. Spend the morning out in the sunny day with an Easter egg hunt, egg painting, face painting, family games and photos and lots of other Easter themed activities for the family, before heading to Adventure Zone for more indoor fun. RMB 388-688 (with Adventure Zone). 9am-5pm. Visit the website for more information. Kerry Hotel.

Congregation of Good Shepherd, April 1

All ages. Join an Easter Service with the Stockholm Cantus Choir, followed by an Egg Hunt for the kids, followed by luncheon. Only open to foreign passport holders. Price: RMB 200 (adults), RMB 100 (vegetarians, NGOs, students), RMB 60 (kids aged 5-12). 10am-noon. Contact cogs@fastmail.fm for registration. Capital Mansion Athletic Club.

Easter Brunch on Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, April 1

All ages. Kempinski Hotel is celebrating this year’s Easter with a range of family activities, live entertainment and spectacular food. Easter Brunch will include a rich salad bar, live BBQ and carving station, Easter lamb, special desserts and classic Paulaner dishes. People of all ages can take part in Easter activities such as egg-painting, live music, a lucky draw and an egg hunt. RMB 388 (Easter Brunch), RMB 528 (Tipsy Easter Brunch), RMB 194 (aged 6-12). 11am-3pm. Follow official WeChat account (ID Kempinski_Beijing) for more information. Kempinski Hotel.

An Egg for Every Bunny, April 1

All ages. Join East Beijing for a fun-filled family day with their Easter Sunday brunch at Feast (Food by EAST). Enjoy their buffet while the little ones try their hand at the Easter egg painting contest, or join their Easter egg hunt to find one of thousands of hidden chocolate eggs! RMB 398 per person (including free-flow selected drinks). 11.30am-3pm. Contact 8426 0888 for more information. East Beijing.

Easter seafood brunch at Marriott Beijing Northeast, April 1

All ages. Join Marriott for a big seafood meal off the grill, and a variety of fun activities for kids such as egg painting, egg hunting, and a clown performance. RMB 458 per family (parents with a child under 12 years old). 10.30am-2.30pm. Contact 5927 8312 for more information. Marriott Hotel.

 Photos: courtesy of event organizers and Pixabay

If you have kids under 5, Tea Room Tots is a great way to keep them entertained while you relax and enjoy a coffee with other parents. While we’re on the subject of coffee, this week’s INN Shunyi Coffee Morning will be held at Jamaica Blue (Yosemite) instead of its usual location at Roundabout. Struggling to find Easter decorations or a gift that’s a little bit different? Look no further than handmade kimono bunnies or origami eggs. Also for Easter, what better way to celebrate the holiday than with a family brunch or lunch this weekend?

INN Shunyi Coffee Morning
Join the International Newcomers’ Network’s Shunyi Coffee Morning this Thursday, April 17 at Jamaica Blue’s Yosemite branch (across from ISB). Held from 10am-noon every third Thursday of the month, this provides a great opportunity to meet other locals in Shunyi. For more information, visit www.innbeijing.org or call 1371 8053 814.

Tea Room Tots
Every Friday from 10.30am to noon, join mums and bubs at The English Tearoom for play, songs, tea, and lunch. The restaurant offers a generous 15 percent discount on food as well as providing fruit for the kids’ morning tea. Song time and the snack break take place around 11.15am to accommodate families that need to be home for lunchtime naps. The next Tea Room Tots will be this Friday, April 18. If you haven’t been to The English Tearoom yet, see our review from last May.

Salo Salo Comes to Harrow
On Friday, April 25 at 6.30pm, Harrow is hosting a Salo Salo fundraising event for typhoon relief in the Philippines. There will be food, live performances, raffle prizes, and a DJ. The evening will be held in the school theater and is open to people outside the Harrow community. Tickets cost RMB 150. To reserve yours, contact Isabelle Henderson at ihenderson@harrowbeijing.cn.

Kimono Easter Bunnies
Easter Sunday is just around the corner, falling this year on April 20. Looking for something different to add to your Easter decorations? Check out Tomoko’s very cute kimono bunnies and eggs, lovingly handcrafted using beautiful paper from Japan. The kimono bunnies (boy and girl) are RMB 30 each and the origami eggs cost RMB 15 each. To purchase, contact Tomoko at happiesttomoko@hotmail.com.

Easter Weekend Brunches and Lunches
There are several dining options for Easter this weekend. Here are the ones happening in Shunyi.

Hilton Beijing Capital Airport is hosting an Easter Sunday Brunch on April 20 from 11.30am-3pm. There will be dishes from all over the world, with a wide range of wines and champagne at 360° restaurant. Children can have fun in the kids’ playground and take part in Easter activities, including egg painting and an egg hunt. The Easter Bunny will also be hopping in for the day. RMB 368 (add RMB 60 for free-flow wine, beer, champagne), RMB 184 (ages 6-12), free for kids 5 and under.

There’s a new spring menu at Green-T-House-Living – perfect for an Easter treat. Dishes include wild red rice soup, jasmine-dusted pork ribs, Beijing duck, sea bass, and delectable ice creams to finish. Watch this space for an upcoming review of their new menu. For reservations, call 136 0113 7132 or 6434 2519.

The Sunday brunch at The Orchard is always a delight, with plenty of creative international dishes. The peaceful setting among orchards and gardens makes for a lovely day out. Most of the organic vegetables used in their dishes are from their own garden. For reservations, call 6433 6270.

Loft Eatalicious is a new Italian restaurant at Pinnacle Plaza (recently reviewed here). It will have a special Easter Sunday all-day menu for RMB 198 per person. Starters include octopus or veal, followed by a choice of risotto or gnocchi; for the main you can choose between roast lamb and salmon. Their desserts cost extra, but are well worth it. To book a table, call 8046 1565 or email shunyi@eatalicious.com.

Photo courtesy of Tomoko