Easter in Des Moines, Iowa 2026
Eggs hunt, bunnies, and eggs everywhere. There are a ton of opportunities to hunt for eggs in Des Moines this Spring. Check out our list of Des Moines Easter Egg Hunts for 2026. If you have an event you would like to add, you can add it here!
Bookmark these other fun resources to help you have a fun Spring in Des Moines!
Egg Palooza
March 28-29; April 4
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch
Are you tired of egg hunts with the pushing and shoving and the mass chaos? Come out to Howell’s for our “Chaos Free” Egg Hunt. No bucket or bags needed for the hunt. They provide an egg carton to collect empty eggs to then be redeemed for prizes. Every child will go home with something!
Busy in the morning? That’s ok. Their egg hunt is an ALL DAY event. Once you have collected your eggs, you can play in their playground.
Admission for the activities for the day is $14 per child (plus tax). Child admission includes an egg hunt with a prize and unlimited activities. $10 per Adult (plus tax). Buy your tickets online and SAVE. Tickets at the gate are $18 (plus tax) per person.
The Easter Bunny will be here and available for pictures
Activities include: playground, bathtub train, Obstacle Course, Bee lines, Corn Pool, Hula Cow, Egg Hunt, Easter themed photo ops, Indoor Plumbing Restrooms!!
Special Egg Event
DATE NOT SET FOR 2026 YET
Jacobson Center, 3000 E Grand Avenue in Des Moines, IA
The Special Egg Event is a free Easter egg hunt for children with special needs and their families. Enjoy food, carnival games, activity areas, and egg hunts that are designed for your child.
- A Quiet Egg Hunt for children on the Autism Spectrum or children with Sensory Processing issues who need a quieter environment. Children who do not need a calm sensory environment should sign up for the general egg hunt.
- A Beeping Egg Hunt for children who are blind or visually impaired.
- A Magnetic Egg Hunt for children with wheelchairs or mobility restrictions. Magnetic eggs and poles allow children to collect eggs
- A General Egg Hunt with 2 heats: ASSISTED for children who need extra time or assistance hunting for eggs, and UNASSISTED for siblings of children involved in any other hunts.
Family Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt
Friday, March 27
7:45 p.m.
Indianola Parks & Recreation
Participants need to dress for the weather and bring their flashlight and a bag or basket for eggs. Gather as many eggs as you can find, then open them up to discover whether they hold candy or prizes from our amazing sponsors.
Register each child participating in this event.Adults and nonparticipating infants/children need not register.
Easter Treasure Hunt
Saturday, March 28
9 to 11 a.m.
The Bridge
Looking for a meaningful Easter experience your whole family can enjoy—without the chaos? Join The Bridge in Johnston on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 9:00–11:00 AM for their Annual Easter Treasure Hunt!
This is a free, come-and-go event designed with families in mind. Kids of all ages can move at their own pace through Easter stations featuring:
- A relaxed Easter egg hunt (no mad dashes!)
- Hands-on crafts and fun activities
- The Easter story shared in an engaging, family-friendly way
Families can enjoy donuts, juice, and coffee while spending intentional time together—both inside the building and out on the grassy area (weather permitting).
Easter Bunny Breakfast & Annual Egg Scramble
Saturday, March 28
9 a.m. to Noon
Hy-Vee Altoona
Enjoy a fun-filled morning at your Altoona Hy-Vee on Saturday, March 28! Special princess appearance, live DJ, snow cones, and more exciting surprises for the whole family!
Schedule of Events
- Breakfast with the Easter Bunny: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Annual Easter Egg Scramble: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Egg Hunt Age Groups:
• 11:00 AM: Ages 1–3
• 11:20 AM: Ages 4–7
• 11:40 AM: Ages 8–12
WDMCC Easter Extravaganza
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m. to Noon
4501 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines, IA
EASTER EGG-STRAVAGANZA!! Drop by the church backyard Saturday March 28th from 10am-12pm, for this fun springtime event! Visitors will go on a self-guided “Mickey and Friends: The Search for Five Easter Eggs ” storybook journey through the back yard down lollipop lane. Along the way you can participate in games, candy stops and even an egg hunt! At the end of your journey stop by and visit with the Easter Bunny!
Waveland Park Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m.
4301 College Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
The Easter Bunny will be on hand to kick off the hunt for thousands of eggs scattered around the Perkins playground. Bring your kids, your friends & your camera!
- The hunt begins right at 10, so plan to arrive a few minutes early. The Easter Bunny will be mingling and the playground structures will be open.
- They will have separate areas for little, middle, and big kids.
- They will plan to hunt rain or shine, but check our Facebook page for any last-minute updates
Kids Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
1100 Shriners Pkwy, Altoona, IA
Join us for the Za-Ga-Zig Shriners Kids Easter Egg Hunt! Kids ages 1-10 are invited for a day of fun, games, and prizes. We look forward to seeing the community come together for this free and exciting event!
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m.
2785 1st Ave S, Altoona, IA
Prairie Vista Village’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt is back! Everyone is invited — residents, friends, families, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, grand-puppies, team members, friends, and neighbors! Join them for a fun-filled day of laughter, community, and Easter cheer as we celebrate together across generations. Because at Prairie Vista Village, family includes everyone.
Sugar Rush Indoor Egg Hunt
Sunday, March 29
After 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services
Kids will enjoy 15,000+ eggs bursting with surpirses, candy and toyed filled eggs, prizes and giveaways and so muhc more! Perfect for Pre-K to 5th graders. Learn more and pre-register here.
Easter Egg Hunt – Waukee Church
Sunday, March 29
1 to 2:30 p.m.
An afternoon of family fun awaits you at this Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 29, 1-2:30 PM. Complete with food, bingo, and the most fun egg hunt! Find a golden egg for a prize. Be sure to bring your basket! The egg hunt begins promptly at 1:05 PM. Bingo starts at 1:30.
GPS Egg Hunt
Sunday, March 29
12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum
Join Des Moines Parks for an EGG-citing adventure at the GPS Egg Hunt on Sunday, March 29th, at 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m., in the picturesque Ewing Park Lilac Arboretum!
Get ready to embark on a thrilling scavenger hunt like no other! Registration is just $10, covering the participant who will be hunting down those elusive eggs and claiming the prizes. Never used a handheld GPS unit before? No worries! Their friendly team will guide you through the basics before you set off on your quest.
Once you’re equipped and ready, it’s time to explore the beauty of Ewing Park while hunting for hidden “eggs” scattered throughout the arboretum. Each egg holds not only a fun surprise but also interesting facts about the park.
Remember, this is a leisurely activity, so feel free to go at your own pace, soaking in the sights and sounds of nature along the way.
Bring your family and friends for a memorable day outdoors, filled with adventure and discovery! Don’t miss out on this egg-ceptional event—RSVP now at DSM.City/GPS and let the hunt begin!
Glowtastic Egg Hunt
Friday, April 3
6 to 8 p.m.; Sensory Friendly Hours 5 to 6 p.m.
Des Moines Children’s Museum
A special after-hours event featuring a glow in the dark on-going egg hunt and a few special surprises. All regular exhibits will be open. Please note this is a candy and treat-free event. All eggs will be empty and can be “hunted” for as long as kids would like. Prizes will be available at the front desk for completing the scavenger hunt.
$10 for ages 1 – 9; $4 for ages 10+, free for infants and members. Admission taken at the door.
Hop into Uptown
Saturday, April 4
Uptown Ankeny
The Easter Bunny will be hopping into Uptown Ankeny on Saturday, April 4th, from 10 am-2 pm! Get your picture taken with the Bunny and receive a filled egg. Check out the full schedule and details.
Photos with Easter Bunny
Saturday, April 4
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nebraska Furniture Mart
Hop on by for a Selfie with the Easter Bunny and receive a free gift while supplies last!
Waukee Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 4
10 to 11 a.m.
Centennial Park
Hop over and fill your baskets full of candy at Waukee’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on the Saturday before Easter. The hunt starts at 10 a.m. at Centennial Park, rain or shine. Get there early to find your hunting field as the horn sounds right at 10 a.m. and the hunt goes quickly! Kids will rush for thousands of eggs and pieces of candy at this popular event. Be sure to watch for the special golden prize eggs. Please note that some candy may contain nuts.
- Open area west of field 3 Ages 4 and younger
- Fields 2 & 3 Ages 5-7
- Field 1 Ages 8-10
Breakfast and Ice Skate with the Easter Bunny
Saturday, April 4
Noon to 3 p.m.
RecPlex
Get ready for a delightful Easter celebration! We invite you toa special brunch featuring fluffy pancakes, savory sausage,and refreshing juice, served from 12 to 1pm. Following yourdelicious meal, lace up your skates and hit the ice from 1 to 3pm – the Easter Bunny himself will be there for hugs andphotos! Don’t forget your camera to capture the magicalmoments.
*Your ticket includes both your tasty brunch andskate rental. Learn more and register here.
Family Easter
Saturday, April 4
9 a.m. to Noon
Living History Farms
$12 for ages 2 and up ($10 for members; 2 and under free). Buy tickets online.
Admission at the door: $13 for all visitors ages 2+, under 2 free
Join the 1876 town of Walnut Hill in celebrating Easter with an old-fashioned flair:
- Egg hunts for toddlers to 12-year-olds (allergy-free option available)
- Easter games, crafts, and stories
- Bunnies from A Home for EveryBunny—Iowa’s Rabbit Rescue
- Baby chick exhibit
- Demonstrations at the Blacksmith, Print Shop, Millinery, and Drug Store
- Horse-drawn wagon rides
- “Spring training” with our Walnut Hill Bluestockings starting at 10 a.m
This event goes on, rain or shine! Please arrive by 11 a.m. to experience as much as possible.
Doggy Easter Egg Hunt
Sunday, April 4 at Noon
Paws & Pints
The most egg-citing event of the year is back! Join us on Saturday, April 4th at 12 PM for our Annual Doggy Easter Egg Hunt.
Watch as pups sniff, search, and scramble to find 200+ hidden eggs throughout our Backyard, each containing a number that corresponds to paws-ome prizes like swag, treats, memberships, and more. One lucky pup will even uncover the ultimate prize … a Lifetime Membership!
- Special Easter Brunch features
- 200+ prize-filled eggs hidden throughout the park
- Photo ops with the Easter Bunny for the perfect holiday pics
- A tail-waggin’ good time with friends and furry companions
Egg My House Opportunities
Not interested in stuffing and hiding a bunch of eggs for the kiddos? Here are some fun ‘Egg My House’ opportunities that support local organizations. Have someone else do the work and support an amazing cause! Have one to add? Let us know!