Easter In Sarasota 2024: Brunch Spots, Egg Hunts, Religious Services

SARASOTA, FL — Those looking to celebrate Easter in the Sarasota area should check out these brunch spots, special events — including egg hunts — and religious services.

Easter Brunch

If you want Easter brunch and don’t want to cook it, some Sarasota restaurants will open Sunday, March 31, to take care of the preparation.

Here are a few of them from the online reservation service OpenTable:

• 481 Gourmet
• Arts & Central
• Boca
• Columbia Restaurant
• Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
• Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
• Libby’s
• Marina Jack

Several upscale chains with locations around Sarasota have announced Easter brunch hours as well, including familiar names like Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Several casual restaurants are open for Easter as well, including Applebee’s, Bonefish Grill, The Cheesecake Factory, Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, Panera Bread, Perkins and Texas Roadhouse.

As always, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure the chain locations near you are open.

Easter Events and Religious Services

There are a variety of Easter events, both more secular happenings and religious services, scheduled in the Sarasota area over the holiday weekend, including:

Stations of the Cross Pilgrimage

Twenty-seven ministers of fourteen denominations will take part in the Good Friday Stations of the Cross pilgrimage down the center of Main Street in Sarasota. Gather at 7 a.m. in front of the Regal Hollywood movie theater, 1993 Main Street, at 7 a.m. The pilgrimage begins at 7:20 a.m.

Good Friday in Payne Park

The Downtown Baptist Church presents Good Friday in Payne Park, a free community event that takes place Friday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will feature an inspirational message and high wire walk from hometown hero, the "King of the High Wire," Nik Wallenda, a Good Friday service, food stations, a helicopter dropping thousands of candy-filled Easter eggs, inflatables and face painting for the kids, live music, and more. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.

Siesta Key Easter Egg Hunt

Presented by the Siesta Key Chamber and Siesta Key Chapel, this annual egg hunt will take place on the chapel’s shade-covered grounds Saturday morning. Doors open at 9 a.m. with egg hunt times at 9:20, 9:40, 10, 10:20 and 10:40 a.m. The event is limited to 200 children ages 1 to 6.

Newtown Spring Fling Parade

The Newtown Spring Fling Parade is back Saturday with its annual parade starting at 1 p.m. at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Osprey, then heading west to Cocoanut Avenue. Post-parade festivities will include live music, vendors and food trucks located adjacent to the historic Leonard Reid house at MLK Way and Orange Ave. This free event runs 1 to 6 p.m.

Boo’s Easter Egg Hunt

Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar, 935 Florida Ave., celebrates Easter on Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m. There will be an Easter egg hunt at 3 p.m., doggy painting with Virginia Bright, and shopping with West Clay Company and My Fairy DogMother, dog and person psychic readings, and a meet and greet with Dr. Donita from Veterinary Concierge Services.

Easter Sunrise Service

Pine Shores Presbyterian Church hosts a sunrise Easter service Sunday, 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., on Siesta Key Beach.

First United Methodist Church of Sarasota

The First United Methodist Church of Sarasota at 104 S. Pineapple Ave. offers Easter services at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Both services take place in the sanctuary with a brass ensemble performing.