Easter in Portland, Oregon

Easter in Portland, Oregon is celebrated annually. The Christian holy day is represented by religious and secular Easter traditions and activities in the city, including costumed bar crawls, brunches, Easter Bunny appearances, and community Easter egg hunts.

Events and activities

The Oregon Rail Heritage Center's Easter Bunny Express features a train ride along the Springwater Corridor with an appearance by the Easter Bunny and a scavenger hunt.[1][2][3] The Oregon Zoo has traditionally hosted the "Rabbit Romp",[4] which was later dubbed "Hop into Spring".[5] The event features animal encounters, lawn games, and magic shows.[1] A spokesperson for the zoo said the event attracted approximately 12,500 people in 2012.[6] The Portland Spirit has offered an Easter Sunday Cruise along the Willamette River.[1] In 2010, the Easter Hat Parade saw participants gather at Pioneer Courthouse Square and walk in a parade along Southwest Broadway to Northwest 22nd Avenue. The Oregon Humane Society in northeast Portland has hosted Easter Bunny greetings to encourage rabbit adoption.[7]

Egg hunts

Various locations have hosted hunts for Easter eggs,[8] including the Oregon Zoo and Mt. Scott Park.[9] In 2023, a local new reporter wrote: "For decades, the Sellwood Moreland Improvement League (SMILE) neighborhood association hosted a relatively small Egg Hunt at the south end of Westmoreland Park — then the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the event for two years. But, like last year, the people at the nonprofit Sellwood Community House (SCH) revived the event at Oaks Amusement Park, and this year held it on March 8, rebranded as 'The Sellwood Moreland Egg Hunt'."[10][11][12] The Moreland Presbyterian Church, Portland Fruit Tree, and SMILE partnered to host an egg hunt and plant sale at Oaks Amusement Park in 2024.[2] The event has featured Easter Bunny appearances.[13][14] HopeCity Church has organized an annual "code orange" egg hunt at Brentwood Park in southeast Portland's Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood.[15][16] The event has seen 200 volunteers and 1,000 participants, carnival games, and Easter eggs dropped from a helicopter.[17][18]

The Central Church of the Nazarene has hosted an egg hunt at Ed Benedict Park in southeast Portland's Lents neighborhood. Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and the Presbyterian Church of Laurelhurst have also hosted hunts.[19] The family-operated Alpenrose Dairy hosted an annual egg hunt[20] in southwest Portland from 1962 to 2019. Hunts were divided by age group.[21] The "mom's hunt" featured jewelry such as earrings and rings with diamonds.[22][23][24]

Food and drink

Many restaurants have offered Easter brunches and specials. In 2018, Brooke Jackson-Glidden of Eater Portland recommended Circa 33 (2010–2021), Clarklewis, Ned Ludd, Olympia Provisions, Pix Pâtisserie, and Urban Farmer for Easter.[25] The Benson Hotel,[26] Brix Tavern, Kennedy School, Mama Mia Trattoria, Portland City Grill, the Ritz-Carlton, and Salty's have also hosted Easter brunch.[27] The defunct Dig a Pony (2011–2022) hosted an annual Pastel Brunch; the event featured art, music, performances, and a pop-up menu by Burger Stevens.[26] The defunct restaurant Quaintrelle (2016–2025) offered an Easter brunch via delivery and take-out in 2020, during the pandemic.[28] In 2023, the defunct Shine Distillery and Grill (2019–2023) hosted an Easter brunch featuring drag performer Nicole Onoscopi.[29]

The annual Portland Bunny Con is a bar crawl with costumed participants.[30] Portland Rescue Mission has hosted Easter services and dinners. Union Gospel Mission hosts an Easter brunch annually and distributes Easter food baskets.[31]

Religious

Easter Sunday services are available at The Grotto.[32][33] Many churches have hosted Easter celebrations,[34][35] including Bethel African Methodist Episcopal,[36] Our Lady of Lavang Church in northeast Portland,[37] and the St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church.[38] In 2025, The Oregonian said: "Since 2020, Highland Christian Center has seen consistent growth within its congregation, with Easter attendance steadily climbing each year. After a pre-pandemic high of more than 800 attendees in 2019, numbers dropped significantly due to COVID-19, with around 200 people attending in 2021."[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Portland spots to host egg hunts, bunny photo-ops and more through Easter weekend". KOIN. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  2. ^ a b Stein, Rosemarie (March 25, 2024). "Ready, set, go! Get ready for Portland-area Easter Egg hunts, spring events 2024". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  3. ^ Todd, Tatum (March 31, 2024). "Easter train rolls through Portland under sunny skies". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  4. ^ "Celebrate Easter with the Rabbit Romp at Oregon Zoo". KGW. April 14, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  5. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (March 29, 2023). "Still deciding on your Portland-area Easter egg hunt plans? You'd better hop to it!". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  6. ^ Muldoon, Katy (April 13, 2012). "Packy's party requires planning for Oregon Zoo visitors Saturday". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  7. ^ "Family fun this weekend: Egg hunts, rabbits and an Easter hat parade". The Oregonian. April 2, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  8. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (April 4, 2012). "Out & About: Do the bunny hop to these egg hunts". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  9. ^ "Celebrate Easter with the Rabbit Romp at Oregon Zoo". KGW. April 14, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  10. ^ "Huge Easter Egg Hunt at Oaks Park". East PDX News. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  11. ^ "Throngs of kids snatch up thousands of Easter Eggs at two East Portland events". East PDX News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  12. ^ "Westmoreland Parks Easter Egg Hunt tradition rolls on". The Bee. May 10, 2013. OCLC 55663345. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  13. ^ "Oaks Amusement Park opens on time – for its 117th season". East PDX News. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  14. ^ "Generations return for Westmoreland Easter Egg Hunt". The Bee. May 6, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  15. ^ Belgarde, Dawn (March 21, 2012). "hopecity church to host first ever Code Orange Easter Egg Drop at Brentwood Park". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  16. ^ Belgarde, Dawn (April 11, 2012). "Thousands Gather for Code Orange Egg Drop in SE Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  17. ^ "Easter eggs rain – and reign – at East Portland egg hunt". East PDX News. Archived from the original on December 15, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  18. ^ "My, What a Busy Week!". Portland Mercury. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  19. ^ "Portland area will be hopping with Easter egg hunts". The Oregonian. April 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  20. ^ Eastman, Janet (July 25, 2021). "Alpenrose Dairy auction: See iconic items for sale from fabled Storybook Lane". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  21. ^ "Family fun this weekend: Egg hunts, rabbits and an Easter hat parade". The Oregonian. April 2, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  22. ^ Acker, Lizzy (February 25, 2021). "Alpenrose in pictures: The end of an era for a Portland institution". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  23. ^ Wang, Amy (September 15, 2019). "Editorial sketchbook: Alpenrose Dairy's legacy lives in family memories". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  24. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (April 22, 2011). "Alpenrose Dairy Easter Egg Hunt a Portland holiday tradition". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  25. ^ Jackson-Glidden, Brooke (March 27, 2018). "Where to Eat for Easter in Portland". Eater Portland. Vox Media. Archived from the original on July 29, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  26. ^ a b Frane, Alex (April 19, 2019). "Celebrate Easter Sunday 2019 With These Brunches". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on September 24, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  27. ^ "Hop to these Portland restaurants for Easter brunch buffets". KOIN.
  28. ^ "Where to get Easter dinner and brunch in Portland while social distancing". KGW. April 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 30, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  29. ^ "LIST: 8 spots to eat Easter Sunday brunch in the Portland area". KOIN. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  30. ^ "Portland Easter egg hunts and more". KGW. April 3, 2015. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  31. ^ "Here's where to get a free meal in Portland on Easter Sunday". KOIN. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  32. ^ Gallivan, Joseph (March 28, 2024). "Fun things to do in Portland this Easter weekend". Axios Portland. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  33. ^ Graves, Mark. "Easter Sunday at the Grotto in Portland 2024". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 2, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  34. ^ Nakamura, Beth. "Easter sermons". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  35. ^ Haught, Nancy (April 8, 2012). "Oregon churches prepare for rush of worshippers who surface only on Christmas and Easter". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  36. ^ Hallman Jr, Tom (April 3, 2021). "Bethel AME Portland celebrates 'Easter faith in a Good Friday world'". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  37. ^ Graves, Mark (April 21, 2019). "Churchgoers pack Our Lady of Lavang in NE Portland for Easter Sunday (photos)". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  38. ^ "Ukrainians in Portland celebrate Easter amid war and immigration worries". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on December 11, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  39. ^ Profenna, Chiara (April 17, 2025). "Christianity continues to decline in Oregon as churches adapt for Easter 2025". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
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