Easter is Australia’s family holiday. Sure, we have Christmas, but December is the month of stressing, gift-giving, and meal-planning. Jamming distant relatives like puzzle pieces into the spare rooms of your house, and feeling obligated to make resolutions. Easter is the weekend to let it all go. New Year’s diets are out the window, gifts (if any) are self-explanatory and foil wrapped, and nearby family are all that need be catered to. It’s an opportunity for the ‘fam’ to get out and have fun.
So what’s Perth got planned for Easter?
Easter in Perth
HUNTS:
Chocolate eggs are an avidly hunted, yet not endangered species. Rarer still, they’re one of the few things hiding in an Aussie yard that can’t kill you. But if you’re not keen to fund your own, Perth offers a smorgasbord of free hunts in different venues around the city. A popular one is at the Ocean Keys Shopping centre. They run a weekend-long hunt for all ages, starting at nine each morning. Pick up a sheet at the info centre, locate the hidden eggs around the building, and trade it all in for a chocolate stash of your own. You can also meet the Easter bunny if cuddly mascots are your thing.
Easter in Perth!
CHURCH:
Whether you’re a regular churchgoer or you’re popping in to observe the traditions of the occasion, many churches offer Easter services on Good Friday and Sunday. These are open to the public, and will likely commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have never encountered one that charges an entrance fee, which is ideal for the pocket-poor among us. Some friends and I went along to one last night. It was a simple, relaxed family environment, and a reminder that there is more to this weekend than brightly-wrapped bunnies. Check out those near you to learn more about the celebration’s historical and cultural significance.
Easter in Perth
FAIRS AND MARKETS:
Perth marketplaces boom over Easter weekend. Whether in the city or the suburbs, colour is delightfully inescapable. Indoor and outdoor venues are filled with business stalls, free face painting and balloon twisting, organised games, rides, live music and entertainment, and of course numerous people donning rabbit ears. Most famous is probably the Rockingham Easter Carnival, running weekend-long on the Village Green, but due to heavy rain this weekend the Craigie Leisure Centre’s Easter Extravaganza Market was also a big hit.
Easter in Perth
MUSIC AND EVENING EVENTS:
For adults wanting an evening out, Perth has a rapidly growing arts and music scene. Over Easter, many bars and music rooms are offering entry deals between $10-$15. Pick the genre best suiting your mood, from slow jazz to blues and brews to punk rock to heavy metal, I have seen a venue offering it. A lot of these places are R18, but to keep with the feel of the holiday some have adjusted to suit a family environment. The Duke Bar and Bistro offered an egg-hunt this morning, with the infamous bunny scheduled to appear this afternoon. Of course, food and friendly live music were available as well.
So whether you are a family with youngsters or a young-at-heart single, there is something for you in Perth this Easter. A student budget is no restriction when it comes to exploring and celebrating with your community. I hope you all had an excellent long-weekend, learned the significance of the occasion, and evaded the tummy-aches.
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