The Long Island Aquarium is offering a festive twist on Easter celebrations with its annual Penguin Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20.
The event, which is free with admission for children under 12, invites families to search the aquarium for wooden eggs hidden throughout the exhibits. In addition to the egg hunt, the aquarium will host an Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 20, featuring a variety of menu options and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.
The Penguin Egg Hunt, a spring tradition for at least 15 years, invites children to search the aquarium for eggs that lead to prizes or even a birthday breakfast.
“Because our birds here are penguins, we thought it would be cute to call it our Penguin Egg Hunt,” Darlene Puntillo, marketing director, told South Shore Press.
To be environmentally friendly, the hunt uses wooden eggs instead of plastic.
“We have little wooden eggs painted and scattered throughout the aquarium. Children are encouraged to go throughout the aquarium, find those little wooden eggs, put them in their baskets and then turn them in at a prize table,” Puntillo said.
Prizes include stickers, candy, a gift shop discount, and reduced admission for the Atlantic Explorer Boat and Snorkel Adventure & Tour. Additionally, there’s a chance to win an aquatic birthday party.
“Anyone who comes to the aquarium Easter weekend will have the opportunity to do the egg hunt,” she said. “It’s available to all the kids that come to visit those days.”
The hunt will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and is free with admission for children under 12, according to the website.
Those attending the Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 20, will find a variety of menu options, including a build-your-own yogurt parfait station. There are three sessions: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.
“The Easter Bunny will be there so kids can get a photo with the Easter Bunny and we have the traditional brunch,” Puntillo said. “The highlight is that it includes all day admission. You can visit either before or after the brunch session, and you can spend the whole day.”
The cost ranges from $78 for adults to $10.35 for young children.
This year also marks the aquarium’s 25th anniversary, with giveaways, swag bags, and interactive experiences, often coinciding with the 25th day of each month, said Puntillo.
“Right now, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary so 25 weeks of fun started on April 1,” she said.
Among the enticements is a discounted admission price of $25, offered on the 25th day of each month through September.
“We are part of the community and enjoy helping animals. A lot are rescue animals that needed forever homes,” she said.