Looking forward to the Easter break? Who isn’t!

Here’s where to eat, drink and celebrate over the Easter long weekend.

Pialligo Estate

This year, Pialligo Estate welcomes everyone to the Glasshouse for a day of Easter Family Fun and Food.

The free event will keep the kids occupied with a jumping castle, face painting, arts and crafts, and a treasure hunt. For the grown-ups, there will be champagne, wine, beer, and food.

Family Picnic Boxes are available for purchase on the website before the event and can be picked up on the day. Alternatively, other lunch options will be offered including a Special Easter Menu served Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday lunch on the Easter weekend.

1/18 Kallaroo Rd, Pialligo | Saturday 20 April from 10 am-3 pm, Special Easter Menu is available 11 am-4 pm and 6 pm onwards, Sunday 21 April 11 am-4 pm | 6247 6060 | thepialligoestate.com.au/whats-on/easter-pialligo-estate

Westfield Belconnen

An Easter basket making workshop is coming your way! Kids are invited to make and decorate their own wooden Easter baskets in preparation for the Easter weekend.

The workshop is free and no bookings are required. The activity will take approximately 15-20 minutes at Westfield Belconnen (children must not be left unattended).

In other news, the Build-A-Bear Workshop is dropping their Easter collection. With new bunnies and egg-stravagant new outfits, kids are sure to love the seasonal specials.

Westfield Belconnen, Benjamin Way, Belconnen | Saturday 13 April from 11 am-2 pm | 6251 4333 | westfield.com.au/belconnen

Museum of Australian Democracy at OPH: The Great Easter Egg Trail

The much-loved Great Easter Egg Trail is back! Bring the whole family along to the Museum of Australian Democracy and embark on one of four new trails through the iconic Old Parliament House.

Priced at just $5 for adults and FREE for under 18s, the activity- and game-filled event is a great value-for-money way to spend Easter Sunday, especially seeing as chocolate prizes will be waiting for you at the end of the trail.

MoAD, Old Parliament House, 18 King George Terrace, Parkes | Sunday 21 April from 8 am – 1.30 pm | moadoph.gov.au/events/the-great-easter-egg-trail-2019

Hotel Realm

Get ready for a long weekend filled with events and activities at Doma Hotels. Hotel Realm will be hosting the annual Realm Precinct Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday; kids will have the chance to hunt for chocolate eggs in the gardens, and may also have a surprise encounter with the Easter Bunny!

Arts and craft stations sporting egg-decorating, bunny mask making and Easter bag decorating will be set up, alongside an Easter colouring competition with prizes. The Noah’s Ark Petting Zoo – a big hit with the little ones – is also coming to the lawns of Brassy Hotel.

As if that’s not enough, a Kids Movie Night will take place on Good Friday and Easter Saturday from 5 pm onwards in the Hotel Realm National Ballroom for guests staying at any Doma Hotel.

Realm Precinct, Barton | Friday 19 April – Monday 22 April, 10 am – 5 pm | 6163 1800 | hotelrealm.com.au/whats-on/easter-at-doma-hotels

Old Bus Depot Markets: Portobello Road on Easter Sunday

Set aside the chocolate hunting and commence your hunt for high-quality antiques, jewellery and collectables with an upcoming Portobello Road markets.

Stallholders will be showcasing their goodies at the Old Bus Depot Markets on Easter Sunday, with plenty of treasures to sift through including retro art, quirky collectables, china, glass art, fine silver, linens and lace, and restored furniture.

Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Ave Kingston | Sunday 21 April from 10 am-4 pm | 6295 3331 | obdm.com.au

National Gallery of Australia

The National Gallery of Australia is hosting a morning of creative activities for kids and families on Good Friday.

Everyone is invited to drop by for a session held in gallery spaces. The session will include a guided exploration of the national collection.

This is a FREE event open to all ages.

National Gallery of Australia (meet at Information Desk) | Friday 19 April from 10.30 am-1 pm | +61 2 6240 6411 | nga.gov.au

Canberra Theatre Centre – Peter Helliar: Big Boy Pants

For parents and grown-ups who are up for a Saturday night event on the Easter long weekend, comedian Peter Helliar (from The Project) is coming to Canberra for Big Boy Pants at the Canberra Theatre Centre.

The duration of the show is approximately 60 minutes, including an interval.

Canberra Theatre Centre Forecourt, Civic Square London Circuit, Canberra | Saturday 20 April at 6.30 pm | 6275 2700 | canberratheatrecentre.com.au/show/peter-helliar-big-boy-pants

Variety Family Fun Day ACT

ACT Variety‘s Family Fun Day offers a wide spectrum of family-friendly events in the Easter school holidays.

The fun includes jumping castles, a petting zoo, face painting, Easter egg hunts, arts and crafts, onstage performances, and roaming characters can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages.

Commonwealth Park – Stage 88, Commonwealth Park West, Canberra | Thursday 18 April from 10 am-2 pm | The event is free; registration is required before Thursday 11 April and can be done at variety.org.au/nsw/variety-family-fun-day-act-registration

AFL Giants vs Fremantle Dockers

If you’re after something egg-citing to take the kids to, a showdown between the Giants and the Fremantle Dockers is happening on Easter Saturday.

Following the game, there will be a Kick to Kick event, so encourage friends and families to BYO footballs! Be prepared for plenty of Easter surprises on the oval.

Prices for attendance start at $25.

UNSW Canberra Oval, Manuka Circle, Barton | Saturday 20 April from 1.45 pm-4.45 pm | gwsgiants.com.au

Westfield Woden: Kids Cooking Class + Easter Scavenger Hunt

Your mini sous-chefs are about to turn into master chefs with this kids’ cooking class hosted by Kids Pantry. This free event will have your children walking away with a sweet treat and a smile. Be sure to let them know if your child has any allergies before participating.

The Easter Scavenger Hunt will be running from Saturday 13 April – Sunday 21 April. Go to the concierge desk on Level 2 to collect your clues and bunny ears where you begin the hunt for five Easter eggs around the centre. Once you have done this you can retrieve your chocolate reward, yum!

Level 1 Westfield Woden, Keltie St Phillip | Kids Cooking Class Saturday 13 April 11 am – 2 pm, Easter Scavenger Hunt April 13 – April 21 Centre Trading Hours | westfield.com.au/woden 

National Museum of Australia

If you are after a quiet and reflective way to spend to your Easter long weekend, head on over to the National Museum of Australia. The Historical Expression of Chinese Art: Calligraphy and Painting exhibition is running now and until July 28.

This Australian-first exhibition explores the breadth and tradition of Chinese calligraphy and painting through artworks from the National Museum of China’s collection. See exquisite paintings by three Chinese modern artists — Xie Yun, Xiao Lang and Wang Naizhuang —and an extraordinary 20-metre-long replica 18th-century scroll documenting Emperor Qianlong’s 1751 tour to the southern provinces.

Lawson Cres, Acton | Monday – Friday 9 am-5 pm | +61 2 6208 5000 | nma.gov.au

Marketplace Gunghalin

The Marketplace in Gungahlin has lots of free and fun activities this Easter holidays. Running over the first week of holidays join in some craft activities to display at home over Easter in the Easter craft zone or bounce your way through the Marketplace with the Easter Bunny themselves in search of Easter Eggs!

Children accompanied by a parent or guardian, register with our event staff, and off they go! At the end of the hunt, children receive a chocolate reward from the Easter Bunny.

15 – 20 Apri| For more information see the website