If you’re looking for a fun Easter egg hunt in the Howard County area (to the west of Baltimore), St. Anthony’s Shrine is a great pick. Not only does this Easter egg hunt offer a fun experience for the family, but it also has the religious element that some of the other Easter activities are missing. Set at a Roman Catholic Shrine, St. Anthony’s is part of the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary, where the Franciscan Friars live and worship. In addition to the Easter egg hunt, you can also visit for Easter mass on the Easter vigil and Easter morning.

St. Anthony’s Shrine offers a religious experience for families during the Easter holiday.

The St. Anthony’s Shrine Easter Egg Hunt In Ellicott City

For two years, St. Anthony’s Shrine has been where my family decided to visit for our local Easter egg hunt. Although there are many choices in the area, this is our favorite for several reasons. First, since we are Catholic, visiting a Catholic shrine makes sense for our family. Next, the location is serene and relaxing. Finally, the Easter egg hunt is organized in a way that helps all children enjoy the experience.

Visiting a Catholic shrine helps teach our children the true meaning of Easter.

When you arrive, get there early to get good parking. The first year, we got there 25 minutes early and had time to explore the shrine before the Easter Egg hunt began. This year, we got there right as the activities began, and we had to wait in a line of cars.

As you walk up to the shrine, don’t begin picking up the eggs.Walk up to the top of the hill, and you will find people gathered and waiting for the activities to begin. Someone will announce the start of the Easter egg hunt and explain all of the rules first. Most importantly, the event begins with a prayer. Then, you can take off and find enough eggs to fill your basket!

As everyone races to find the eggs, you should follow your children. The grounds are very big, and children can get separated from their parents very easily.

One of the best parts of the Easter egg hunt is that you only have to find a certain amount of eggs. Last year, you had to find 10 eggs, and this year, you had to find 15 eggs. When you find enough eggs, you can exchange your eggs for a generously-sized bag of candy. One lucky egg had a ticket for a jumbo chocolate bunny, but we didn’t happen to find it.

During the Easter egg hunt, children have to collect a certain amount of eggs to be able to get a bag of candy. This makes it fair for everyone, because there are always plenty of eggs for every child to find enough.

When you have found enough eggs, you can explore the grounds and enjoy the surroundings. With 310 acres of beautiful land, you have plenty of space to walk with your family. You can find a tree house, a large lake, and farm land.

Take the time to explore the grounds during your visit to the St. Anthony Shrine.

When you collect all your eggs, wait in a line to exchange them for candy. If you’re still hungry after eating candy, buy pizza. This year, you could also buy ice cream from a Scoop & Paddle food truck.

Since the Easter egg hunt is organized so well, even young guests can find enough eggs. Then, enjoy your stay and have a picnic with your family!

After you have your food, find a spot to rest with your family. We usually head to the balcony inside the shrine, where you can find an incredible view of the grounds.

The balcony offers a nice place to relax with your family.

Although this is one of our favorite spots to enjoy our candy, many families bring a blanket and have a picnic. Spend as long as you like enjoying the nice weather! We certainly weren’t in a rush.

Children get a bunch of candy inside their bag! This generous helping kept my girls very happy during their visit.

With such a beautiful view, we also enjoyed hiking the property. The flowers were in full bloom and even though it was cloudy, it was warm enough that no one needed jackets.

Flowers in bloom at St. Anthony’s Shrine in Ellicott City

Towards the end of the Easter egg hunt, music was playing. With beautiful weather, food, and happy families, this event was a great way to celebrate the holiday.

My daughters couldn’t help but dance to the music! They were filled with joy after the fun activities.

For a second year in a row, the St. Anthony’s Easter egg hunt was an awesome experience for our family. Not only did we enjoy the religious aspect, but we also thought that the families were all very friendly there. You can find plenty to eat, and you can enjoy the beautiful rolling hills of Howard County.