Queen's Park will be hopping with activity for this year's Easter festivities.
Easter in Queen's Park takes place on Sunday, March 31 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Queen's Park bandshell and Rainbow Playground.
"It's going to be fantastic," predicted Jay young, manager of Queen's Park Arenex. "With the sunny weather, we are expecting it to be busy."
The day's entertainment lineup includes: Now or Never (break dancers) at 11: 15 a.m.; Music Box (children's music) - 11: 40 a.m.; Lowry Olafson (children's music) - 12 p.m.; and Rumba Calzada (five-piece Latin band) - 1 p.m.
Other activities include crafts, a petting farm, balloon animals, concession services and a roving magician and jester.
"He (the jester) was entertaining people as they were waiting in line last year," Young said. "He is bringing his friend, who is a magician."
The annual Hop Along the Bunny Trail event is back by popular demand.
"It's a series of activities," said Young, noting they change from year to year. "At the end of doing those activities, we will have a little treat bag."
Easter in Queen's Park doesn't include an Easter egg hunt, but the Hop Along the Bunny Trail ensures kids get a treat.
"We can make sure everyone who participates in Hop Along the Bunny Trail gets the same amount of eggs," Young said.
Children can have their photos taken with the Easter bunnies, with a $2 donation recommended.
Instead of taking orders and mailing hard copies of photos after the event as has been done in past years, the city's plan is to post the images on Facebook. People will also be able to opt out of having the photo posted online.
"If they require a hard copy, we will have a hard copy for them to pick up," Young said. "We are trying to push everyone to digital. The plan is to put as many people through as possible."
Young noted that some people had to be turned away at last year's event because of lineups to see the Easter bunnies. It's expected that having staff take the photos, rather than a professional photographer, will also speed up the process.
Easter in Queen's Park has been taking place for many years, but the city is making some changes to the way it's being planned. Instead of being staff driven, the city has brought community members onto the organizing committee.
"It brings new ideas, new ways of looking at things," he said. "My goal next year would be to have more community members."
Young said the idea is to give the community a voice in the planning of Easter in the Park so it stays relevant to the community.
The community is also helping to run Easter in Queen's Park, with one resident MCing the event and others volunteering at different activities. New Westminster Secondary School leadership students, as well as recreation students from Douglas and Langara colleges, are also helping to run some of the events.
"It looks like it is going to be warm or warmer than last year," Young said of this year's event. "Come early."
