Whidbey Island Communities Host Easter Egg Hunts, Brunches, and Family Events This April

Smith Park in Oak Harbor will hold more than 3,000 eggs on April 4, Coupeville's Soroptimists are marking their 31st annual scavenger-style hunt, and Clinton is moving its beloved egg hunt to the Thirsty Crab Brewery & Event Space for the first time. Whidbey Island's spring lineup this year spans the full length of the island, mixing free community hunts, ticketed brunches, church celebrations, and festival-style family days across Oak Harbor, Coupeville, Clinton, and South Whidbey. Most events fall on April 4 and 5, with Easter Sunday activities rounding out the two-week stretch of school-break programming.

Oak Harbor: Smith Park and Beyond

The Oak Harbor Main Street egg hunt at Smith Park anchors the north-end calendar. On April 4, a sensory-friendly hunt for children ages 1 to 10 with autism and special needs begins at 11:30 a.m., giving families who need a quieter environment their own dedicated window before the crowds arrive. A second, open hunt for all children ages 1 to 10, divided into age groups, follows at 12:30 p.m. Marketing Coordinator Teresa Besaw summed up the draw simply: "It brings the community together in one of our best parks in town." Both hunts are free, and the Oak Harbor Main Street website is direct about pacing: the hunts are over quickly, so arriving on time is essential. While kids hunt, the Oak Harbor Garry Oak Society will staff a booth nearby, and Whidbey Island Macaroni Kid will hand out free children's books.

For families who want to pair the holiday with a sit-down meal, Whidbey Golf Club hosts a brunch spread from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 5, with egg hunt activities and Easter Bunny photo opportunities running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reservations are required; contact the restaurant directly to RSVP.

Church communities across Oak Harbor also open their doors over the weekend. First Reformed Church holds a Children's Easter celebration from 10 a.m. to noon on April 4, featuring crafts, games, an egg hunt, and a retelling of the Easter story. Whidbey Grace hosts a family Easter service at 10 a.m. on April 5, followed by an egg hunt and treats. Life Church runs a full weekend schedule, with services at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on April 4 and again at 9 a.m. that morning, continuing into Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and noon on April 5, each service followed by family activities.

NAS Whidbey: Bunny Bonanza at the Convergence Zone

Families connected to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island have their own dedicated celebration. The Bunny Bonanza runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 4 at the Convergence Zone, offering egg hunts, bunny photo opportunities, and games and activities for all ages. The event is designed as a full-afternoon outing, giving base families a community gathering point that mirrors the civic-minded spirit of the civilian events happening across the island the same day.

Coupeville: 31 Years of the Bunny Tail Scramble

Coupeville brings a distinctly adventurous format to Easter morning. The 31st annual Bunny Tail Scramble, organized by Soroptimist International of Coupeville, runs from 10 a.m. to noon on April 4. After checking in near the Island County Museum, children follow clues to 10 bunny stops, collecting eggs along the route in a scavenger-hunt structure that rewards patience and navigation as much as speed. Candy, face painting, and raffle prizes cap the event. Space is limited, and the pre-registration deadline is March 31; sign up through the Coupeville Soroptimist website.

Clinton: Festival Energy at Thirsty Crab

Clinton packs April 4 with two distinct events running in close succession, and this year both carry a new venue energy. The Clinton Chamber of Commerce Easter Egg Hunt takes place from 10 a.m. to noon at Thirsty Crab Brewery & Event Space, featuring hundreds of eggs for children ages 0 to 12, prize giveaways, candy, bunny photo opportunities, food trucks, games, and a petting area. The brewery setting gives the hunt a festival atmosphere that extends beyond the egg-collecting itself. Photographer David Welton, who has documented the Clinton hunt in previous years, recalled simply: "Everyone was smiling."

Later that morning, Lakeside Bible Camp's Easter Extravaganza begins at 11 a.m., with the egg hunt launching at 11:30 a.m. Families who stay on after the hunt are welcome to enjoy a free barbecue lunch, yard games, crafts, an inflatable obstacle course, a story trail, and face painting. Together, the two Clinton events make the morning a natural circuit for families willing to move between venues.

South Whidbey: Captain Whidbey Easter Brunch

For a slower-paced Easter Sunday, Captain Whidbey offers a scenic brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. alongside coastal-inspired dishes. A midday egg hunt is built into the schedule, with designated areas organized by age group, followed by crafts at the Wellness Center. The format is designed as a full-day outing by the water, giving South Whidbey families a self-contained Easter experience without needing to travel to multiple stops. Previous years at Dan Porter Park have also featured forest scavenger hunts, and church and civic-sponsored egg hunts continue to fill out the South Whidbey calendar as April progresses.

Planning Tips

A few practical details apply across nearly every event on the list:

• Several hunts, including the Bunny Tail Scramble in Coupeville, have hard caps on participation. Register or RSVP before showing up.
• The Oak Harbor Smith Park hunts move fast by design; late arrivals risk missing the action entirely.
• Food trucks, photo opportunities, and activity booths at Clinton's Thirsty Crab event extend the morning well beyond the hunt itself, so build in time.
• Weather on Whidbey in early April is unpredictable; check event pages before heading out, as some outdoor events include contingency plans or may shift times.
• Many events are organized by nonprofits and volunteer groups. Supporting the local businesses that co-host or sponsor these gatherings, including breweries, restaurants, and small vendors, directly sustains the infrastructure that makes them possible year after year.

The island's Easter lineup this spring reflects something Whidbey has long done well: layering long-standing civic traditions, such as a 31-year-old Coupeville scramble, with newer community anchors like Clinton's brewery-based festival, creating a calendar that serves every corner of the island and every age of child.