Easter weekend is coming up fast! If you’re anything like me, you’re trying to figure out how to make it magical for your kids without losing your mind in the process. Good news: The Temecula Valley has some seriously adorable options this year, and I’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to.

Whether we are hitting a big community bash at a local park or keeping it low-key with smaller Easter activities at home, our vibe usually depends on the family’s energy and the schedule of the day. With five kids of my own ranging from young children to adulthood, I’ve learned to embrace the flexibility that holiday weekends require. Rather than trying to force a “happy” moment for the sake of a tradition, I’ve realized that every year is a bit different. What stays consistent, though, is the beauty of simply making time for each other and showing up as we are.

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Easter Egg Hunts Worth Waking Up Early For

If you are looking for the classic “dash for the gold,” these local Easter egg hunts are the big ones to mark on your calendar.

• Murrieta Spring EGGstravaganza & Recreation Expo
  • When: Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Starts at 9:30 AM
  • Where: Town Square Park & Amphitheater, 11 Town Square, Murrieta
  • The Details: This is a massive community favorite. They have tiered start times by age (2 & under at 9:30 AM, up to age 10 at 10:45 AM).
• City of Temecula Annual Easter Egg Hunts (Ages 0-12)
  • When: Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Arrival 9:30 AM, Hunt at 10:00 AM sharp
  • Where: Three locations: Harveston Community Park, Patricia H. Birdsall Sports Park, and Temeku Hills Park.
  • The Chaos Factor: These hunts are high-energy! Arrive early to catch the music before the eggs disappear in 90 seconds flat.
• Teen Night Light Egg Hunt (Ages 13-18)
  • When: Friday, March 27, 2026 | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Where: Ronald J. Parks Community Recreation Center (RJPCRC)
  • The Vibe: Grab your flashlights for an epic hunt under the stars! This is perfect for the older kids who still want in on the fun. Bonus: Teens can earn community service hours just for attending.

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Easter Bunny Photo Ops & Family Portraits

Finding the right spot for Easter bunny photos in Temecula can be a mission. Here is where to find him this year:

• Promenade Temecula: The Bunny is available daily from March 18 through April 4, 2026. Check reservation times here.
• Maurice Car’rie Winery: They are hosting an Easter Eggstravaganza on Sunday, April 5, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, featuring a free kids’ hunt and a chance to meet the Bunny in a beautiful vineyard setting.

A Photographer’s Tip

If your little one is feeling uneasy about the big ears and the whiskers, jump in the photo with them. Don’t worry about the “perfect” solo shot; a photo of you comforting your child is a much more authentic reflection of your bond than a tearful “bunny-only” portrait!

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Spring Festivals & Farm Activities for Kids

For families who want a slower pace and more variety, these Easter activities at our local farms offer a more “lived-in,” connection-focused feel.

• Peltzer Family Funday:
  • When: Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
  • The Magic: This is a favorite for DIY photos! They have a petting farm, Peltzer Express train rides, gem panning, and a scavenger hunt from 11 AM – 2 PM. Visit Peltzer’s site for details.
• Temecula KOA at Vail Lake:
  • When: March 30 – April 5, 2026
  • Activities: They are hosting a week-long Easter Eggstravaganza with face painting, bounce houses, and live entertainment.

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Low-Key Easter Activities: Intentional Traditions at Home

Sometimes the best Easter memories happen in the quiet moments at home. If you have tiny ones who aren’t quite ready for the “egg hunt hustle,” or you just want a slow morning together, these are some of my favorite heart-centered traditions:

Baking “Resurrection Rolls” (The “Empty Tomb” Treat)

This is a favorite in our house! My little ones are always so surprised when they take them out of the oven to find the center is empty. It’s a fun, sticky treat that makes the story so tangible for them.

• The “Story” Steps: Give each child a marshmallow (representing Jesus). Have them dip it in melted butter and roll it in cinnamon sugar (representing burial spices). Wrap it tightly in a crescent roll triangle, pinching the edges well!
• The Surprise: Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes. Once they’ve cooled, let the kids take a bite—they’ll be so surprised to find the marshmallow has “disappeared,” leaving the center empty just like the empty tomb!

Building a Simple Resurrection Garden

This is a beautiful, tactile way to watch the season “grow” on your kitchen table. You don’t need a kit—just what you have on hand and a quick trip to the backyard!

What you’ll need:

• A shallow dish, terracotta saucer, or even a wide basket.
• A small terracotta pot (laid on its side for the tomb).
• Potting soil or dirt from your backyard.
• Small stones/pebbles for a path and one large stone for the “tomb door.”
• 6 small sticks or twigs (to make the three crosses).
• Twine, jute, or a hot glue gun (to secure the crosses).
• Mini plants: Small flowers like Violas or Pansies, or even some moss and grass seed.

The Steps:

1. Set the Scene: Place the small pot on its side in the middle of your dish. Mound your soil up over the back and sides to create a “hill.”
2. Make the Three Crosses: Take your sticks and form three crosses (one slightly larger for the center). You can use a dab of hot glue or wrap a little twine in an “X” shape to hold them together.
3. Plant Your Garden: This is where the kids can get creative! Tuck in some small flowers like Pansies or Violas around the hill, or add bits of moss from a shady spot in the yard. If you have time, sprinkle grass seed over the dirt—it will start to sprout in just a few days!
4. The Path & The Stone: Have the kids create a pebble path leading to the tomb. Place the three crosses firmly into the “hill” behind the tomb.
5. Easter Morning: Keep the large stone in front of the pot until Sunday morning, then let the kids roll it away to reveal the empty tomb!

Local Low-Key Spots

• A Morning at Harveston Lake: Grab some coffee and take a slow stroll around the lake. The one-mile loop is stroller-friendly and the perfect backdrop for a few quick photos of the kids in their Easter best before they head to the playground.
• Temecula Public Library Storytime: During the week leading up to Easter, the library often hosts themed storytimes like the “Goodnight Moon PJ Storytime.” It’s a purposeful, indoor way to celebrate that fits right into a morning nap schedule.
• Backyard Traditions: Never underestimate the power of a simple egg dye in your own kitchen or a “hidden gem” hunt at Glen Arbor Park. Sometimes the most intentional connection happens right in our own neighborhoods.

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Survival Tips for Easter Weekend with Little Ones

As a mom of five, my best survival tip for Easter weekend in Temecula is: Don’t overschedule.

1. Comfort over Couture: Pick an outfit that looks great in photos but allows them to run, jump, and nap.
2. Pack the Essentials: Snacks and a favorite toy are non-negotiable for long lines or wait times at brunch.
3. Find the Down Time: If the schedule feels heavy, give yourself permission to head home early. Your peace is worth more than a full basket!
4. Keep it Low Pressure: If you’re hoping to snap a few photos of the siblings together at the park, remember that the best shots usually happen when they’re just playing. I actually shared more on my 5 tips for beautiful and stress-free sibling photos here if you want a few more tricks up your sleeve!

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Here’s to a Sweet Easter Weekend

I hope your Easter is filled with warmth and authentic connection. Whether you’re braving the crowds at a community hunt or simply dyeing eggs at the kitchen table, remember that these moments are a gift.

Capture the Magic with a Spring Portrait Session

I know so many of us will be grabbing those sweet phone photos of the kids before church or during the egg hunt—and I hope you do! Those candid, messy, “real life” snapshots are such a vital part of your family’s story.

But since you’ve already done the hard work of coordinating those adorable Easter outfits and planning the magic, I want to invite you to a different kind of experience. I want to give you the chance to put the phone down and simply be with your children.

Spring in Temecula is such a fleeting, beautiful season. During a session with me, there is no pressure to perform or “smile for the camera.” My goal is to create a space where you can focus entirely on the connection you have with your little ones while I document this special time for you. You deserve to be a part of the memory, not just the one recording it.