1. Meadowhall’s roarsome (dinosaur) egg hunt

Head to Meadowhall for the most exciting egg hunt ever as a pack of dinosaurs come for a surprise visit this Easter. Take up the free dino-mite trail and get on the hunt for nine eggs hidden around Meadowhall (and maybe outside too).

Could it be a tiny T-Rex about to be born or an adorable stegosaurus? Unlock their imaginations from Saturday 5th April to Monday 21st April and have the most fun day out over the school break and Bank Holiday weekend.

2. Easter chocolate hunts for all ages

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Stock up on everyone’s favourite chocolate! Hotel Chocolat’s giant family-friendly Extra Thick Eggs are back (there are eight to choose from including vegan ones with biodegradable, compostable, and 100% recyclable packaging); they have cute bunnies, lambs and chicks plus £5.95 boxes of delicious chocolate eggs that are perfect for setting up hunts on Easter Sunday (you can also find cute baskets for them to carry at Flying Tiger Copenhagen and Primark). For lovers of Dubai chocolate, there are even pistachio bow-tie bunnies.

Also look out for egg-stra special chocolate at Marks & Spencer including Flossy the Highland Cow, Made Without Dairy Rocky Road Eggs and (for those who don’t like chocolate) M&S Easter Colin The Caterpillar Woodland Egg-venture sweets. Discover more delights at Lindt, Poundland and Krispy Kreme too.

3. Make some personalised gifts for Easter

Image provided by Flying Tiger.

There are so many brilliant crafting gifts for kids to make friends, mum and dad and grandparents. Flying Tiger Copenhagen has paint-your-own eggs, mugs, plates and decorations or make fun Easter cards with crafting bits and pieces from The Works, Argos, Kenji and Primark.

Design your own bath bombs at Lush, pick up a personalised charm from Pandora or choose from the pick’n’mixes at Lindt and Next’s beauty hall.

4. Easy (and free) Easter days out with the kids in Sheffield

Keep an eye for kids-eat-free offers at Meadowhall here (TGI Fridays, Marks & Spencer, Prezzo and The Real Greek all regularly offer deals for families during the holidays) before heading to the brilliant Riverside Playground which has a climbing zone, sandpit and plenty of slides and swings. Bookmark the Meadowhall calendar for pop-up free events all year round, too.

5. Inspired Easter recipes and baking

Keep them occupied in the holidays with some easy baking ideas. Pancakes shaped like bunnies and decorated with fruit, mini egg cupcakes and easy lemon drizzle cake are all simple and fun ways to get them in the kitchen without losing your mind.

@baking_with_kids and @eatingwiththekids are both great Instagrammers filled with do-able recipes. Pick up handy ingredients at Marks & Spencer.

6. Discover cute alternative Easter gifts

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If the kids are likely to get <all> the chocolate at Easter, pick them up something that’ll last longer. There’s the brand new Jellycat spring range of ducks, bunnies and bees at It’s So Fluffy; fun interactive books galore at Waterstones (We’re Going on an Egg Hunt by Martha Mumford and Laura Hughes is always popular); flowers and Easter bunny sets at Lego plus Little Live Pets, Smashers Dino Eggs and Fugglers at The Entertainer – they’ve also got some great crafting ideas too! Or, let them create their own perfect toy at Build-A-Bear.

7. Find your spring outfits

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Refreshing pastels of blue and pink are back for spring 2025 while Zara’s leopard-print trainers and ballet flats are ones to watch for women – and silver jewellery is having a comeback for summer. Don’t miss this season’s beauty – cherry girl, satin skin and mineral sunscreen – at Space NK and Flannels.

Book in for colour-blocking flowers and ‘mini egg’ manis at Townhouse. For guys, varsity jackets, loafers and slim crop-fit jeans are taking over Zara, Mango, Tommy Hilfiger and H&M.

When it comes to kids’ new wardrobes, it’s all about spring-inspired bunny, cheery and carrot patterns (see Marks & Spencer’s fun two-piece set for boys), cute quilted jackets and practical hats to keep the sun out of their eyes.

8. Easter food and drink treats and hosting

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Start planning for your Easter get-togethers now. Hot cross buns, Simnel cakes, roast lamb with mint sauce, morning mimosas and spring veg are the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of the warmer weather. Head to Marks & Spencer for inspiration.

9. Enjoy active family time

Image provided by Fun Station

Meadowhall is made for family days out with endless choices for entertainment. There’s trampolining at Jump Inc, rock climbing and obstacle courses at Rock Up, VR games, arcades and prizes at Funstation, inflatables and ball pits at Air Haus and bowling and mini golf at Clubhouse. Book your day out now!

10. Create some DIY decorations

Image provided by Flying Tiger

One of the biggest looks for homewares this Easter is a DIY statement decoration – fill a vase with pretty sticks then hang your own homemade decorations from the stems (painted glass eggs, pom pom chicks and paper butterflies from beautiful strips of ribbon) or this season’s wooden eggs. Or, simply select a gorgeous bunch of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for your mantelpiece.

You can also create a gorgeous Easter wreath for your front door; make your own painted napkin holders; design gorgeous signs for an at-home Easter egg hunt and string up pastel-coloured paper garlands.

Be inspired at Flying Tiger Copenhagen, Marks & Spencer and Primark.

11. See a movie together

Snow White is out 21st March and Minecraft the Movie is out on 4th April – perfect for the Easter holidays. Vue at Meadowhall also has a host of special musical, opera, dance and kids’ screenings so keep an eye on their calendar here. Plus, adults can get 30% off cinema tickets with a great deal from Frankie & Benny’s.

12. Book a family celebration together

Image provided by Frankie & Benny’s

Don’t fancy doing all the cooking? Book in for a family feast at one of Meadowhall’s welcoming restaurants. Easter is a huge celebration in Italy so Zizzi, Pizza Express and Carluccio’s know how to host a big family meal for all ages.

Harvester has a special Easter menu with a three-course set menu at £19.99 available Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Monday 18th April (it will be closed Easter Sunday) featuring spicy crackerjack prawns, ribs, fish and chips, burgers and chocolate fudge cake.

Las Iguanas, Nando’s, TGI Fridays, The Real Greek, wagamama and Yo! are also great places to go with all the family.

13. Fun Easter kids’ crafting

Get creative with paper bunny ears, felt decorations, DIY giant egg jigsaws (cut some cardboard into a giant egg shape, paint it then cut into pieces) and Easter garden sets (paint an egg box and fill with baby chicks). Or pick up some spring seeds and get gardening. Follow @craftedbybears and @raisinglittlejess for some great crafting ideas.

14. Mini home makeovers

Finally, it’s time for a spring clean with bright shades of yellow, baby pink and greens. Recycle outgrown clothes at H&M and River Island (both offer credit vouchers) as well as at Zara and TK Maxx. Add some new-season brightness with beautiful cushions, vases and accessories you’ll love from Marks & Spencer, Urban Outfitters and Primark.

For the latest special offers and menus go to @lovemeadowhall or sign up for news here; and share your dinosaur finds too!