Easter 2021: Egg Hunts, Services And Meals In And Near Marietta

MARIETTA, GA — Easter celebrations across the country and in Marietta will look different from ever before in 2021 as traditional events such as egg hunts, religious services and restaurant deals will go on virtually as well as in person.

Easter Eggs in the Park

The Easter bunny may be spotted hopping through Marietta parks this week, beginning March 29 through April 1. Each egg may contain a small toy or piece of candy, and eggs are first-come, first-served.

The city of Marietta's parks and recreation department is leading the effort. So far, the Easter bunny has left behind some eggs at Elizabeth Porter Park, Lewis Park, Laurel Park, Tumlin Park and Ron H. Francis Park.

First Baptist Church of Marietta, 148 Church St.

• Easter Sunday services:
  • April 4 from 7-8 a.m. for sunrise service, and 9:30 a.m.-noon for regular service.
  • Sunrise service will take place in the church parking lot with social distance guidelines followed. Those attending the sunrise service are asked to bring chairs.
  • In-person service at 9:30 a.m. is limited to 230 attendees and will take place in the church sanctuary. Masks are required.
  • To register for in-person services, visit the Eventbrite registration link here. To view the service online, visit the church's "Watch Live" tab on the website, or go to the Facebook or YouTube pages.

North Metro Church, 2305 Barrett Parkway NW

• Holy Wednesday Devotional:
  • March 31 at 8 p.m. via church website and Facebook page.
  • Only virtual church will be offered for this service.
• Maundy Thursday services:
  
  • April 1 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for communion; 8 p.m. for devotional.
  • The church is open all day for self-led communion in the theater area. The devotional will take place virtually via church website and Facebook page.
• Good Friday offerings:
  • Stations of the Cross: April 2 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Good Friday service: April 2 at 7 p.m.
  • The church is open all day for self-led Stations of the Cross experience at the church's outdoor pavilion.
  • Both virtual and in-person church service will take place for Good Friday. The livestream will be available via the church website and Facebook page. To register for a seat at the in-person service, visit the church website.
• Holy Saturday offerings:
  
  • Stations of the Cross: April 3 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The church is open all day for self-led Stations of the Cross experience at the church's outdoor pavilion.
• Easter Sunday services:
  • April 3 at 6 p.m. and April 4 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
  • Both in-person and virtual church will take place for Easter. All services will be streamed live via the church website.
  • Indoor and outdoor seating will be available for in-person service. Registration is required to attend any of the three services in person, which can be done online here.

Grace Marietta, 675 Holt Road NE

• Good Friday:
  • April 2 from 6:30-8 p.m.
  • In-person service will take place outdoors at the church's park pavilion.
• Easter Sunday:
  • April 4 at 9 a.m. indoors, 11 a.m. outdoors.
  • Masks are required for indoor services, but no seat reservations are required. Outdoor service will meet at the park pavilion.
  • For more information, visit the church's website.

Mostly religious services went virtual during the Easter season last year, when the coronavirus pandemic was still fairly new and most states remained under strict shutdown orders in mid-April. This year, there’s more of a combination of virtual and in-person services taking place with the pandemic having passed the one-year mark.

Many major American archdioceses, such as in Chicago, will continue to hold virtual services that will be streamed throughout Holy Week, which includes the Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday holidays leading up to Easter.

Good Friday, on April 2 this year, marks the death of Jesus Christ. Easter, two days later, celebrates the time when he was resurrected. The Sunday holiday always occurs on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Religious traditions on Good Friday include periods of silence and fasting for many Christians, prominently in the Catholic faith.

Fairfax United Methodist Church in Virginia is also streaming its Holy Week services, with an in-person service offered to a limited number of attendees on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter.

Many Protestant churches will have their traditional sunrise services with social distancing in mind. The Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church is having its services on Easter morning, while the Colorado Council of Churches canceled its service at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre and instead will have Bishop Kym Lucas of the Episcopal Church in Colorado lead a virtual service.

One of the most celebrated Easter traditions outside of church is the Easter egg hunt, many of which were canceled last year but will return in some form in 2021. In La Grange, Kentucky, an egg hunt is planned in conjunction with a drive-in theater and movie; and St. John’s United Methodist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina, already held its egg hunt over two sessions, with early sign-ups required.