The Easter holiday is landing a bit later on the calendar this year, which means community members and organizations have more time to celebrate.

A Walk Through Easter

Such popularity in its first year has brought the return of a new Easter event in Turlock.

From April 15-17, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Turlock will welcome community members to their second ever “Walk Through Easter.” Each evening, the church will host visitors and take them on a free educational walk-through diorama depicting the last week of Jesus Christ’s life, the atonement and His resurrection.

The tour includes stops at over a dozen rooms within each of the two church buildings at 4300 Geer Road. Each room is decorated by the different stakes within the church, many of whom also serve as tour guides and cast members, recreating events from the Bible. Scenes are made as realistic as possible thanks to the use of professional lighting crews, real plants, era-specific clothing and complimentary video clips.

According to Michelle Belloli, communications director for the local church, over 200 people helped organize the inaugural event last spring, which drew 1,070 people between two nights, prompting them to add a third day to this year’s festivities.

Tours are available in both English and Spanish each day. English tours are from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, while Spanish tours run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Kiwanis of Greater Turlock Easter Egg Hunt

The Kiwanis of Greater Turlock will host their second annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 12 at Turlock High School. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with music, face painting, raffles, and even an appearance from the famous Easter Bunny.

The hunt itself takes place behind Bulldog Arena, otherwise known as the Boys Gym, and gets underway at 10 a.m. sharp.

Phi Sigma Sigma Egg Hunt

That same day will be the continuation of one of the longest running Easter egg hunts in town which belongs to the Theta Mu chapter of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority at Stanislaus State. This year marks the 25th edition of their hunt, which takes place in the campus quad. 

Festivities include raffles, bowling, musical chairs, balloon animals, sack races, hula hop races and more. The event begins at 10 a.m. with the egg hunt starting at noon. 

Food and drinks will also be available for purchase. According to the student organization, proceeds from the event will go towards community partner Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy, as well as the chapter’s Community Impact Fund, which helps “under-resourced children receive the materials they need to succeed in school and prepare for college.”

Crossroads Church Eggstravaganza

Also that day will be the annual Eggstravaganza at Crossroads Church on 1360 N. Johnson Rd. 

Taking place at the church’s park, the popular egg hunt begins at 9:30 a.m. to kick off their anticipated “Easter Week.”

Turlock Moms Club Easter Egg Hunt

Over in Denair, the Turlock Moms Club will be hosting multiple egg hunts on Sunday. 

The free event takes place at 2300 E. Zeering Rd., and will feature over 30 vendors. It offers families a chance to eat and listen to music, the kids to play, and the parents to shop from local small businesses. 

The festivities will be on from noon to 3 p.m., with egg hunts scheduled for 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The famous Easter Bunny will also be there to take photos for $10.