Tips for Easter Egg Hunt in Orange County, CA

Take out those plastic eggs in your holiday storage boxes and get an awesome Easter egg hunt organized for your family, friends, neighborhood, church or community this year. Use these 9 tips and ideas to plan a egg hunt that is sure to become an Easter tradition.

Organizing Your Hunt

Specify the Hunting Area  (preferably gated) – Obtain permission if the space is shared for an entire community such as a local park.  Take into account that if you are using a public area for a private egg hunt, you may discover other uninvited children wanting to join or strangers getting too close. This is why it’s best to use an enclosed or fenced area.

Have a Plan B in case of bad weather – Depending on the forecast, look at booking a substitute site like a school or daycare facility. A daycare facility may be perfect as they should already have many areas that are child safe.

Offer Healthy Goodies – Before the hunt, ward off kids overindulging in candy, chocolate, and peeps by asking parents and guardians to bring a healthy snack  like fresh fruit, pretzels, veggie chips, and nuts for non-allergic kids.

 Determine How Many – The saddest thing is not having enough eggs for each kid who is attending. Promote the event on Facebook or your South Orange County groups social media channel. Prepare to have about eight to 10 eggs for each guest.

Separate Hunts by Age – Create egg hunting adventures for certain age groups  Arrange kids based on their age; three to five, seven to ten, 11-14 and 15 to 18 . Give each group around 15 to 20 minutes per hunt.

 Do No Allow Helpers – This rule needs to be clearly understood by attendees. Ask parents not to help children unless they are under three years old or have special needs. Ideally, there should be no pointing, hinting, or walking near where eggs are. It’s all in fun, not a sudden death sports event.

Puzzle Pieces – An imaginative way to get kids brain’s working collectively is to put puzzle pieces inside some of the plastic eggs and have kids put the puzzle together following the hunt.

Easter Eggs of Fortune – Besides the traditional hunt, make a card with letters or words and then put those on same color eggs that are well hidden at your hunt.  Once all the eggs are found, assemble them into a phrase like the “Wheel of Fortune”. This is ideal for the older kids.

Organize a Potluck Brunch – If adults want to hang out once the hunt is over, ask them to bring a dish, and have older children play games such as running or hopping in a sack or an egg toss contest.

Where to Celebrate the New Year in South Orange County

FAMILY FRIENDLY NEW YEAR’S EVENTS


RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

CELEBRATING FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Provides family-friendly entertainment, visual arts, interactive crafts, games and food booths.

Time: 5-9 p.m.

Cost: Free.

Location: Bell Tower Regional Community Center,

22232 El Paseo,

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA.

949-216-9700 or cityofrsm.org

 

IRVINE

 

NOON YEAR’S CONFETTI COUNTDOWN: Pretend City provides a New Years celebration for kids with story time, colorful art projects and a dance party. A countdown with streamers, confetti and noise makers takes place at 12 noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Open from:  10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Cost: $12.50.

29 Hubble, Irvine;

949-428-3900 or pretendcity.org.
new years eve Orange County CA

HUNTINGTON BEACH

Annual Surf City Splash & Pancake Breakfast

Celebrate the first day of the year with a dip into the chilly Pacific Ocean. No wetsuits. The Surf City Splash also features a crafts fair.

Admission: $20  includes a Pancake Breakfast and a Certificate of Participation

When: January 1, 2017,  9:00 am – 11:00 am

Where: 405 Pacific Coast Hwy (Zack’s at Pier Plaza)

Huntington Beach, CA

 

18 & OVER EVENTS

 

DANA POINT

 

MIDNIGHT AT THE CLIFFS: Event features a live musical performance at 10 p.m., hor d’oeuvres throughout the evening, and a Champagne toast at midnight at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort.

Doors open at 9 p.m.

Cost: $140.

Location: 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point;

949-661-5000 or lagunacliffs.com


REGIS RESORT CELEBRATION:
Celebrate the New Year with a special six-course New Year’s Eve tasting menu at St. Regis Resort’s Stonehill Tavern.

When: 5:30 p.m.-midnight.

Cost: $175.

Location: 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point;

949-234-3900 or stregismb.com

 

IRVINE

 

A MIDNIGHT TO REMEMBER: Celebrate with Champagne, cocktails, late-night foods, and dancing at Red Bar and Lounge.

When: 9 p.m.-2 a.m.

Cost: $25.

Location: 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

949-225-6757 or redbarandlounge.com

 

DINNER CELEBRATIONS

 

EATS KITCHEN & BAR: Chef Jason will provide a five-course prix fixe menu, live music and a Champagne toast.

Time: First seating, 7 p.m. $70; second seating 9:30 p.m., $90.

Location: 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

949-225-6780 or eatskitchen.com

 

CUCINA ENOTECA: Guests celebrate with a four-course meal that includes a countdown with Champagne.

Cost: $68; optional wine pairing, $38

Location: 532 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine;

949-861-2222 or urbankitchengroup.com

 

MASQUERADE PARTY: Celebrate at Twenty Eight Restaurant and Lounge. Dancing, DJ, and a midnight Champagne toast and party foods.

When: 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $40.

Where: 19530 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

949-852-2828 or twentyeightoc.com

 

PREGO RISTORANTE NEW YEAR: Ring in the New Year with  a DJ, live music, dancing, dinner and Champagne toast at midnight. Complete dinner menu is available until 9 p.m., and a prix-fixed menu is available all night.

Cost: $79.95

Where: 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine;

949-553-1333 or pregoristoranti.com

 

TAPS FISH HOUSE & BREWERY CELEBRATION: Event features a special prix fixe menu, party bites and a Champagne toast at midnight.

When: 4 p.m.-midnight.

Cost: Prices vary.

Where:  13390 Jamboree Road, Irvine;

714-619-0404 or tapsfishhouse.com

 

NEWPORT BEACH

 

BLACK AND WHITE NEW YEAR’S EVE SOIREE: Guests at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar will enjoy a three-course menu, drinks, live music and dancing.

Cost: $59-$149 based on location of seating and time seated.

When: 5 p.m. til midnight.

Where: 3131 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach;

949-999-6622 or thewinerynewport.com

 

FIG & OLIVE’S “WHITE AND GOLD PARTY“: This celebration features a four-course prix fixe menu.

Cost:  Dinner, $150; cocktail reception, $100.

Where: 151 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach;

949-877-3005 or figandolive.com

 

NEW DUNES RESORT and PORT CORONA Del MAR invite guests to ring in the New Year at the Dunes Bayside Pavillion.

Cost: $89  includes hors d’oeuvres, two regular cocktails, wine, beer and Champagne.

When: 8 p.m.-1 a.m.

Where: 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach;

800-765-7661 or newportdunes.com

 

NEW YORK NEW YEAR’S EVE: Celebrate with a three-course meal, glass of Veuve Clicquot, music and dancing while  watching the ball drop live from New York’s Times Square.

Entry: $118.

When: 5 p.m.-midnight.

Where: 7962 E. Coast Highway, Newport Beach;

949-715-9915 or babettesnewportbeach.com

 

YACHT PARTY: Party on the water on an fancy 130 foot yacht. Three levels of partying with DJs playing Hip hop, dance, top 40 and a premium open bar. Event frequently sells out so reserve early.

Food: Appetizer buffet court

When: 8:30 pm to 1 am. Boat departs the dock at 9 pm.

Where: Ambassador Yacht, 2901 West coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Tickets: $189 General Admission

Age Limit: 21+

 

TUSTIN

BLACK AND WHITE NEW YEAR’S EVE SOIREE: Guests at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar will enjoy a three-course menu, cocktails, live music, dancing.

Entry: $59-$149 depending on seating time and location.

When: 5 p.m.-midnight. 2647 Park Ave., Tustin;

714-258-7600 or thewinerytustin.com

 

LAGUNA BEACH

A Gala evening in the Grand Ballroom and Courtyard including appetizers, a four-course dinner with wine pairings and more with live music by premium musicians.

When: The Loft, 8-10 pm dinner, live music till 1 am. Studio 8 pm reception, 9 pm dinner

Where: Montage Laguna Beach

Tickets: $795-$1195 depending on distance from the stage.

Food: 4-course dinner, passed appetizers, cheese display

Age Limit: 21+

Info: www.montagehotels.com/lagunabeach/new-years-eve/

Reservations: (949) 715-6420

NYE at The Loft or Studio at the Montage Laguna Beach

The Loft and Studio restaurants at the Montage also have New Year events with 5-course chef’s tasting menus. Each features live music and a midnight toast. The party at Studio also includes a pre-dinner reception, drinks, wine pairings, and dancing.

Tickets: The Loft – $200 adults, $60 children 4-12; Studio $475 per person

Age Limit: all ages, under 18 must be accompanied by an adult

Food: 5-course dinner

When: The Loft, 8-10 pm dinner, live music till 1 am. Studio 8 pm reception, 9 pm dinner

Where: Montage Laguna Beach

Info: www.montagehotels.com/lagunabeach/new-years-eve/

Reservations: (949) 715-6420