A glimpse of brightly coloured foil through the grass; a gleeful shriek from behind a shrub; the happy rustling of paper; and chocolatey grins all around. It’s Easter. We’ve rounded up some magical festivities for both you and the kids, from pairings of bubbly and butterscotch-filled eggs to chocolate falling from the sky.  

Johannesburg

Easter egg hunt at Alek’s Kitchen
Alek’s Kitchen is hosting an Easter egg hunt for children 12 years old and younger on Monday 9 April 2012 at 12 noon. Parents can snack on lunch under the trees while their little ones hunt for chocolate treasures. Call 011 022 1795 to book.

Egg decorating at the Lindt Chocolate Studio
The Lindt Chocolate Studio is offering a special Easter egg decorating course for kids between 10 and 16 years old. The hour-long session costs R150. Phone 021 831 0380, email JHBStudio@lindt.com or visit www.chocolatestudio.co.za for more information.

Fairlawns Sunday lunch
The Fairlawns Easter Sunday lunch buffet includes homemade iced tea or lemonade at the poolside on arrival and hot cross buns, for R380 per person.

Lunch at Clico
Indulge in an Easter lunch and dinner menu at Clico Boutique Hotel on Sunday 8 April. Menu 1, including crab claws with caramelised leek and celery and roasted belly of pork with honey, pomme purée and confit apples, is R350. Menu 2, which offers poached oysters with caviar, foie gras, toasted brioche and caramelised pineapple and oven-roasted duck breast with pomme boulangere, is R450 per person. Both menus offer chocolate velvet with hazelnut cream for dessert. (Add R125 per person for optional wine pairing.)  

The Rand Show
Meet amazing creatures, watch chefs perform, indulge in some shopping and enjoy the Easter parade. Tickets are available at Computicket at R80 for adults, R65 for pensioners and R20 for teenagers. (No fee for children under six.) Phone 011 494 2894 / 011 494 3280, email info@randshow.co.za or visit www.randshow.co.za for more information.

Pretoria

Easter at Ludwig’s Roses
Head to Ludwig’s Roses for an Easter hunt (R100 per child) among the roses between 9am and 11 am on Easter Sunday 8 April. Easter picnics are also on offer for adults (R135) and kids (R65), and Spiced Coffee Restaurant will be open for breakfast, brunch and lunch.  

KwaZulu-Natal

Morning Glory Restaurant 
Fancourt’s Morning Glory restaurant will host a spectacular Easter Sunday Family Buffet on Sunday 8 April 2012. The restaurant offers spectacular views overlooking the Outeniqua golf course, and an array of supervised activities and entertainment will be on offer for children. The cost is R220 per adult and R120 for children between 6 and 12 years. (No fee for those under 6). For bookings contact Katherina Cato on 044 804 0441 or katherinac@fancourt.co.za

Splashy Fen
Adults can take pleasure in live music against the backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains while kids are kept busy with the Easter programme run by professional child minders. A variety of outdoor activities and stalls are suitable for the whole family. The cost is R500 for adults and R125 for children between the ages of 4 and 11. (No fee for children under four.) Phone 031 563 0824, email c-weed@iafrica.com or visit www.splashyfen.co.za for more information.

uShaka Marine World
Join Arica’s largest Easter egg hunt throughout the phantom shipwreck aquarium at uShaka on Saturday 7 April at 8am. After the hunt, there will be a special Easter dolphin show. Tickets cost R70 for adults and R100 for kids. Click here or phone 031 328 8000 for more information.

Cape Town

Afternoon tea buffet at The One & Only
Indulge in the Easter Bunny afternoon tea buffet on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 April at Vista Bar and Lounge for R145 a person. On Easter Sunday there’s a kiddies buffet for R75 a child, as well as egg hunting, egg painting and other themed activities. Phone 021 431 5800/5888 or email reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com for more information.

Brunch at Mount Nelson
Enjoy alfresco brunch or afternoon tea at Oasis Restaurant at the Mount Nelson Hotel on Sunday 8 April 2012. Children will delight in the chocolate bunny buffet and the Easter egg hunt at 3pm in the gardens, followed by a performance by the South African National Circus. Brunch is R225 for adults and R105 for children under 12. Afternoon tea is R165 for adults and R105 for children under 12. Phone 021 483 1948, email restaurantreservations@mountnelson.co.za or visit www.mountnelson.co.za for more information.

Egg decorating at the Lindt Chocolate Studio
The Lindt Chocolate Studio in Cape Town is offering a special Easter egg decorating course for kids between 10 and 16 years old. The hour-long session costs R150 a child. Participants will each receive their own ready-moulded egg to decorate and be provided with paints. Phone 021 831 0360, email CPTStudio@lindt.com or visit www.chocolatestudio.co.za for more information.

Noordhoek Farm Village
The Noordhoek Farm Village on the Cape Peninsula is having its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday 7 April at 10.30am, while parents relax at restaurants or do some shopping. Kids can also enjoy face painting and bunny-shaped balloons. Tel 021 789 2812, email info@noordhoekvillage.co.za or visit blog.noordhoekvillage.co.za for more information.

Winelands

Blaauwklippen Family Market ?
An Easter Egg treasure hunt will take place from 11am for the little ones at the Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. Visit the market for pancakes and artisan ice cream and chocolate, or the carriage museum for fresh produce such as cheese, relishes and fresh bread. Enjoy craft beers, cocktails and Blaauwklippen wine while you listen to live music.

Bubbly and Easter egg pairing
Indulge in delightful Easter egg pairings (R35 per person) at Devon Valley Hotel, the House of J.C. Le Roux. Pairings include J.C. Le Roux Pinot Noir with a dark chocolate and a ganache-filled egg, La Vallée with a butterscotch-filled egg and Le Domaine with a white chocolate caramel-filled egg. For information on cellar tours and tastings, call 021 865 8200 or visit www.jcleroux.co.za.

Easter egg hunt at Delvera Farm Village
Delvera Farm Village is hosting an Easter egg hunt for children on Saturday 7 April and Monday 9 April. There will also be arts and crafts, donkey rides and wine tastings, or relax in the beautiful gardens at the Simonsberg Café. Gates are open between 9am and 4pm. Phone 021 884 4352, email info@delvera.co.za or visit www.delvera.co.za for more information.

Longridge Restaurant
The restaurant is open for the whole weekend, including Good Friday and Family Day.  Chef Bruce von Pressentin has created a special Easter Sunday set menu at R240 per person.  The three-course meal includes a choice of Asian inspired starters such as a marinated fish salad or duck spring rolls, main dishes of fillet fritte, fresh line fish or exotic mushroom tart with a Cointreau-infused chocolate pot or homemade ice cream or sorbet for dessert.  Each dish is paired with a wine from the Longridge HPG range.

Laborie Wine Farm ?
Laborie Wine Farm is hosting fun for the entire family over Easter. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance, and there will be face painting, jumping castles, a clown show and a hunt. Tickets (R60 per child; R100 per adult) are available at www.webtickets.co.za. Phone 021 807 3390, email info@laboriewines.co.za, or visit www.laboriewines.co.za for more information.

Warwick in Wonderland
Jump down the rabbit hole at Warwick Wine Estate between 1pm and 4pm from 6 April to 9 April and find good food, music, face painting, Easter egg hunts and jumping castles. Cost is R150 per child, which includes a fruit juice and boerewors roll. Phone 021 884 4410, email visit@warwickwine.com or visit www.warwickwine.com for more information.  

Eastern Cape

Bathurst Easter egg hunt and market
Be sure you’re at the Pig and Whistle in Bathurst on Sunday 8 April at 9am for an epic Easter egg hunt and market. The price to hunt for eggs is R5 per child, half of which will go to charity. Please bring a box of Easter eggs to be distributed to under-privileged children in the Bathurst Location. Call Lisa Came at 046 625 0673 for more information.

Nelson Mandela Bay Big Splash
Enjoy four days of fun at Hobie Beach over the Easter weekend. From Friday 6 April 6 to Monday 9 April (12 noon to 11pm) there will be lifesaving, jet-skis, surf skis, swimming competitions, beach rugby and beach tennis, as well as live music and the annual Easter egg hunt. Phone 041 456 2525, email info@gobigevents.co.za or visit www.thesplashfestival.co.za for more information.

Garden Route

The Sedgefield Slow Festival: the Easter Bunny beach fling
Good old-fashioned fun for the whole family. The Easter Bunny will drop 1500 chocolate eggs onto the beach for children aged 10 or younger. Highlights include a spectacular air show performed by paragliders and microlights, an Easter parade and activities that will raise funds for charity. Phone 082 213 5931, email walk@gardenroutetrail.co.za or visit www.slowfestival.co.za for more information.

Have we left out a fabulous Easter event? Send us the details in an email to info@eatout.co.za. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep in the loop about foodie events and news.

Image by aussiegall and jamieanne