Get out there and play

Although Peter Cottontail won’t visit for another week, that doesn’t mean your family can’t participate in pre-Easter egg hunts. Grab the kids, your canine companion, your best egg-collecting baskets and your camera for some extraordinary hunts.

Your football-loving brood will run for a touchdown at the 6th Annual Spring Egg-Stravaganza at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, Saturday. Kids 10 and under can fill their baskets from 10 a.m.-noon at the free candy grab. The event also offers brunch from 8:30-10 a.m. Though reservations are full at this time, interested families can take a chance by arriving early to try for a last-minute table. Brunch is $17.50, $12 kids 3-9, free kids under 3 with a paying adult. The candy grab is free for kids 10 and under. Parking in the Waldron garage is $10. For more information, call (312) 235-7000 or visit chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Your four-legged friends won’t be left out of the fun, with the 6th Annual Doggie Easter Egg Hunt at Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, from 10 a.m.-noon. Hunt for treat-filled eggs, a bonnet parade and photos with the Easter bunny (for an extra fee). Entry is $5 per dog. For more information, call (773) 478-3499 or visit chicagoparkdistrict.com.

For more fun, stop by Irwin Park, 18120 Highland Ave., Homewood, for both the Lucky Egg Hunt, for kids 6 and under, and the Great Dog Egg Hunt, for the pooch in your life. The Lucky Egg Hunt starts at 10 a.m., with kids trying to find the lucky eggs marked with special prizes. The Great Dog Egg Hunt is at 11 a.m. Both events are free. For more information, call (708) 957-0300 or visit hfparks.com.

Want even more egg-hunting fun? Visit our calendar or call your local park district to locate other egg hunts this weekend. Many hunts are open to the public, but some require registration.

Photo courtesy of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District.

Get out there and play

Four lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a family five-pack to see “Katrina: The Girl Who Wanted Her Name Back” at Adventure Stage Chicago, 1020 N. Noble St., Chicago. The play is about a young girl from New Orleans as she faces the storm that shares her name. Tickets are good for any Saturday or Sunday show during the play’s April 5-May 9 run, excluding the April 25 and May 9 shows. For more information, visit adventurestage.org. To win, visit our discussion board.

Get out there and play

Nothing says Easter quite like a chocolate bunny. This weekend, get your family’s chocolate fix at the Easter Carnival and Chocolate Factory Open House at the Long Grove Confectionery this Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Take a tour of the factory to learn how the delicious chocolates are made.

Kids can get their faces painted, touch a truck and compete in a coloring contest and a Jelly Belly guessing game. A carnival and free photos with the Easter Bunny round out the event. Long Grove Confectionary will host a sale on chocolates during the event to make filling this year’s baskets a little easier.

The Long Grove Confectionery is located at 333 Lexington Drive, Buffalo Grove. Admission is free. For more information, call (847) 459-3100 or visit longgrove.com.

Get out there and play

Whether your kid roots for Monsters or Aliens, you’re sure to be a hit when you win “Monsters vs. Aliens: The Video Game.” Five lucky Chicago Parent readers will be able to win the game on their choice of console: PS3, XBOX, Wii or DS. For more information, visit monstervsaliensgame.com. To win, visit our discussion board.

Get out there and play

This weekend celebrate all things reptile at ReptileFest 2009, held at the University of Illinois-Chicago Physical Education Building, 901 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Saturday and Sunday. Although there will be plenty of reptiles to touch, hold and look at, no animals will be for sale. Sit on the back of a giant tortoise, pet the tail of an alligator and test your reptilian knowledge during the festival.

ReptileFest takes place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $8, $6 kids 3-11. One-dollar discount coupons are available on the Web site. For more information, call (312) 409-4456 or visit chicagoherp.org.

Get out there and play

Take your kids on an adventure to the land of Dor, where a little mouse became an unlikely hero, when you win “The Tale of Despereaux” on DVD. Ten lucky Chicago Parent readers will win a copy. For more information, visit thetaleofdespereauxmovie.com. To win, visit our discussion board. Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\article-detail.xslt