Planning on having guests to stay over the Easter bank holiday? Well, it’s important to have a couple of rabbits to pull out of the hat (so to speak) to keep your guests amused for the long weekend. So, we’ve put together a handy activities pack full of plenty of ideas, from delicious recipes to fun filled games, all designed to keep your family and friends entertained over the Easter period.
Easter Lunch Recipes
Having the entire family gathered around the dinner table is one of the best things about Easter – second to all of the chocolate of course. Here are a few delicious recipes that we hope will appeal to the whole family.
Nothing says Easter like a delicious roast. Jamie Oliver’s Easter lamb recipe is testament to this with its bursting flavours of mint and garlic. This recipe says to serve the lamb on spring vegetables, but we don’t see why you shouldn’t add some roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings into the mix!
Crispy Filo Tart with Seasonal Veg
Here’s something a little lighter. This vegetarian tart is a delicious and seasonal dish to serve. It will also suit the vegetarians amongst you.
If you want to treat your family to a delicious vegan lunch, this pasta dish is filling and flavoursome. The rich aubergine pieces and the tasty harissa and chilli sauce really packs a punch.
Baking
What’s Easter without some indulgence? Baking is a great activity for a rainy afternoon and making a few delicious teatime treats will certainly be a crowd pleaser.
Fill the house with the enticing smells of freshly baked hot-cross buns on Easter morning. Paul Hollywood’s recipe does call for quite a bit of time, so allow yourself a whole morning in the kitchen to prepare.
Two words which on their own are great but when put together are even better: chocolate and cake. Wow your friends and family and create the ultimate chocolate Easter masterpiece with the recipe for Nigella’s Easter Egg Nest Cake. Serving 8-10 people, this recipe is ideal for those of you with big families – and if there’s only a few of you, then there’s even more to go round!
If you want to do something a little bit different this year, you could try and make your very own chocolate Easter eggs. All you need is some chocolate to melt, some egg moulds and a fridge to cool them in after.
Easter-themed Games
Easter Egg Hunt
We all know the British weather can be quite temperamental (to say the least), so be prepared to take your Easter egg hunt indoors. Otherwise, get hiding those eggs around the garden but make sure you count how many eggs you’ve hidden and where you have put them. You definitely don’t want to be finding a forgotten chocolate egg a few months down the line…
Easter Trivia
For families with slightly older children, put your brains to the test with an Easter themed quiz. You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want depending on the ages of your guests.
Pin the Tail on the Easter Bunny
This classic party game can be enjoyed by everybody from grandma to the youngest members of the family. It’s really easy to set up – all you need is a blindfold, a picture of the Easter Bunny, and some sticky name badges.
Explore the outdoors
Spring is a time where the British countryside really flourishes, so get yourself out into the wilderness to experience some refreshing springtime sights. It’s a great way to walk off a heavy lunch and for the kids to burn that Easter egg energy. If you live in a city, then it’s well worth travelling out for a change of scene and experience England’s beautiful countryside. Here are some areas which are particularly nice in springtime:
The Forest:
English woods are an absolute gem. The ground flowers and bluebells offer a picturesque place to spend an afternoon for parents whilst the kids will love the fresh air and open spaces.
Botanical Gardens:
If you’re planning to stay in your town or city for the Easter break then there are plenty of gardens to visit to get your fix of nature. If you’re based in London, for example, Kew Gardens has an immense selection of rare tropical flowers and trees.
National trust houses:
The grounds surrounding the stately homes can provide an excellent alternative to the countryside for those living in towns or cities. They’re dotted all around the UK and often have Easter events like art exhibitions, music, or games and Easter egg hunts for children.
Evening Entertainment
After you’ve had a long lunch, played some Easter games, and been for walk amongst nature, you might feel like relaxing on the sofa a little.
We know Easter is about family, but there’s no denying that it’s also about chocolate… so we’ve chosen a couple of family-friendly chocolate-related films for you to settle down to:
Chocolat:
A classic British-American romantic drama about a young mother who opens a chocolate shop in the fuctional French town of Lasquenet-sous-Tannes.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
The story of a young boy who receives a golden ticket to visit the most amazing chocolate factory in the world and to meet its eccentric owner.
So there you have it, entertaining family and friends this Easter will be a piece of cake. Whether you’re wanting to spend the weekend around your home, or are happy to venture further afield into the British countryside, there’s a whole host of Easter-themed entertainment and events to keep you busy.
We hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend!
Best wishes,
The Willow & Hall Team