This week, known as Holy Week, is spring break for many, as we gear up for Easter weekend and a huge choice in Easter services coming up on Sunday. Before I get to those, there are also a couple fun egg hunts happening tomorrow (Saturday, April 20th), especially fun if you’re here with kids.
An Eggcellent Hunt on the IOP
First up, the Isle of Palms is having its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 a.m. sharp Saturday morning at the Rec Center. In addition to filling their baskets with eggs, kids can visit with the Easter Bunny and pose for photos with the big guy. Egg hunts will be grouped by age. There will also be jump castles, photo booth, face painting, snow cones, cotton candy, and copious amounts of candy in general. This is Easter, after all. Here’s more from the IOP website. The Rec Center is located at #24 18th Avenue on the Isle of Palms, more or less in the middle of the island.
Hunt Eggs or Attend Special Easter Services at Charleston Plantations
Area plantations are having special Easter events - both egg hunts and Easter services. Easter services are free, and the egg hunts are at no additional charge to regular admission. Magnolia Plantation is having their 10th annual mambo Great Easter Egg Hunt, with a record 20,000 eggs stuffed with candy and neat prizes. Hunts are grouped based on children’s ages, and there are both morning and afternoon hunts for all. Here’s a breakdown: 3 years and under - 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (parents may accompany their child) 4 to 5 years - 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. 6 to 8 years - 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 9 to 12 years - 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. This is a very popular event and space is limited, so you should plan to arrive an hour before your egg hunt. Eggbert Hopps, Magnolia’s mascot, will be on hand for pictures. Here’s the plantation website with more details. Magnolia will also be having an Easter sunrise service Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m., sponsored by Old St. Andrews Parish Church, St. Andrews Mission Church, and Church of the Good Shepherd. Everyone’s welcome. Parking is free, and you’re welcome to stay and enjoy the grounds of the plantation at no charge. Just show the church bulletin for free admission. Middleton Plantation is also having their Easter Eggstravaganza - an egg hunt (with genuine old fashioned dyed eggs) , visits with the Easter Bunny, egg decoration, Colonial games, egg games like egg toss and egg rolls, crafts, story time and live animals. It happens from 10:30 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Saturday. They’ll also have a special Easter weekend brunch available Saturday and Sunday. Read more about it all on their website and make a reservation, which is recommended.
Sunday Easter Services, including the Biggie at Boone Hall
There’s an abundance of great Easter services to choose from near the beach. First, if you are an early riser, there will be an Ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service taking place on the beach itself, at Breach Inlet. It’s put on by the churches of Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. It starts at 6:30 a.m. You are encouraged to bring a flashlight to make your way safely before the sun rises, and a chair if you’d like. It’s always a very popular event so you are encouraged to get there early. This is on Sullivan’s Island, just over the Breach Inlet bridge from the Isle of Palms. For more information, contact Sunrise Presbyterian Church at 883-3888. Then there’s the gigantic open air service on the lush grounds of Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. St. Andrews Church invites everyone to this, their annual Easter Service of Celebration. It takes place under the giant white tent behind the main house. In fact, the tent is the largest one in the state of South Carolina. The service itself starts at 9:00 a.m., but the music begins even earlier, at about 8:30. This is also very popular. They expect about 5,000 people, so get there early if possible. The grounds are gorgeous, and you are free to tour them at no charge after the service is over.
Here’s a list of Island Easter services, as compiled by the Island Eye News:
Sunrise Presbyterian Sunday Easter Services:
- 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at Breach Inlet
- 9 a.m. Celebration of the Resurrection Service
- 11 a.m. Celebration of the Resurrection Service
Sunrise Presbyterian Church is located at 3222 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island. For more information, call 883-3888 or visit www.sunrisepcusa.org. IOP Methodist Church Sunday Easter Services:
- 8 a.m. & 11 a.m. Traditional Services
- 9:30 a.m. Praise/Communion Service in the Fellowship Hall
First United Methodist Church located at 21st Avenue at Palm Blvd, Isle of Palms. For additional information call the Church Office at 886-6610 or www.iopmethodist.com. *Nursery will be provided at all services. Isle of Palms Baptist Easter Sunday: 10:30 a.m. Worship service Isle of Palms Baptist is located at 14th-24th Avenue, Isle of Palms. Evening services are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of the month, and a Men’s Breakfast is held at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. For additional information, call 886-6762. St. Marks Lutheran Sunday Easter Services:
- 6:30 a.m. ecumenical service at Breach Inlet in front of Sunrise Presbyterian, followed by a pot luck breakfast at the church at 9:30 a.m.
- 8:30 a.m. Easter Service*
- 11 a.m.: Easter Service*
*Flowering of the Cross between services St. Marks Lutheran is located at 300 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms. For more information, call 886-8557.
Here are more Easter services on Sullivan's Island:
Stella Maris Catholic Sunday Easter Services:
- 8 a.m. Mass
- 9:30 a.m. Mass
- 11:15 a.m. Mass
- 5:30 p.m. Latin Mass
Stella Maris Catholic is located at 1204 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island. For more information, call 883-3108. Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal Sunday Easter Services:
- 6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service at Breach Inlet with other island churches.
- 8 a.m. Rite I in the Historic Church building
- 9:00 a.m. Family Service in the Traditional Building
- 9:30 a.m. Family Service Easter Egg Hunt for all children
- 11 a.m. Rite I in the Traditional Church with a simultaneous Rite II Contemporary Service in the Great Hall.
Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal is located at 2520 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island. Nursery is available during the Maundy Thursday and Easter Day services. For additional information, call 883-3586 or visit www.HolyCross.net. Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church Easter Sunday: 11 a.m. Easter Service Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church is located at 1753 Central Avenue, Sullivan’s Island. For more information, call 883-3601. www.sibc.us. So enjoy this most special and holy time of the year. And when you are searching for the best in beach house rentals Charleston SC, be sure to call Exclusive Properties. All best, Lowcountry Lisa your Isle of Palms vacation blogger