Bustle's EVERYTHING EASTER Event Guide 2022

Spring merriment is always in bloom in Birmingham. This season is such a wonderful time to let new memories blossom, so we curated an Easter Event Roundup for EVERYONE to enjoy - Furbabies included! Whether you’re in the mood for a photo op with the Easter bunny with your littles, frolicking through a spring market with friends, or watching your best four-legged friend hunt eggs of their own, we have you covered.

Homewood Park Easter Egg Hunt

WHEN: Saturday, April 9th from 3PM-5PM

WHAT: Visit the Homewood Athletic Complex for a quintessential Easter day filled with prizes, bounce houses, photo ops with the Easter Bunny, and OF COURSE an Easter Egg Hunt. Egg hunts are organized by age for toddlers up to 10 years old - remember to bring your own baskets from home. The first hunt begins at 3:30 pm for the little ones and ends at 4:30 for your older kiddos.

Mt. Laurel’s Spring Festival

WHEN: Saturday, April 9th from 10AM-3PM

Photo by: The Town of Mt Laurel

WHAT: Celebrate spring in the charming town of Mt Laurel. This is such an amazing way to kick-start the season! Whether you’re frolicking with friends or your family, there is something for everyone here. Enjoy a day shopping this vibrant street fair, savoring dishes from the best local food trucks, and strolling the idyllic streets of one of Birmingham’s sweetest neighborhoods.

UAB Dragon Hunt

WHEN: Sunday, April 3rd. Gates open at 1PM and Egg Hunt starts at 2PM

Photo by: UAB

WHAT: Each year the Annual Dragon Hunt has grown in size. The move of this family-friendly free event to PNC Field (located at the corner of University Boulevard and 11th Street South) will offer three separate egg hunt areas for your little ones. Pre-registration is now available online here and will allow quick access on event day. Those who pre-register have the opportunity to receive a UAB prize when you check in to the event!

Oak Mountain State Park Easter Egg Hunt (Your furbabies can hunt too!)

WHEN: Saturday April 16th from 9AM-4PM

WHAT: Bring your best Easter baskets because Oak Mountain has OVER 20,000 FILLED eggs this year! The hunt will be located off of Terrace Drive in the Multi-use Field by the Discover Shelby Pavilion. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around for free pictures and the kiddos can get some of their own air time in the bounce houses! THE BEST PART, the last hunt of the day will be for pups only! Count us in!

Sips n Strokes Easter Painting Class

WHEN: Wednesday April 6th at 7PM

Photo by: Sips n Strokes

WHAT: Find your inner Picasso this spring season with a class at Sips n Strokes. This artistic experience is located in downtown Birmingham. We highly recommend taking a look at their April calendar because there are several dates and different style selections to choose from. Bring your favorite bubbly and your best friends for a night to remember (we’ve found from personal experience that the art looks better after several sips of chardonnay).

Bluff Park Annual Easter Egg Hunt

WHEN: Saturday, April 9th from 9:30AM-11AM

WHAT: Calling all kiddos 5th grade and under. Bluff Park UMC is hosting their annual Community Easter Egg Hunt! Welcome and Registration begins at 9:30 am and the egg hunt follows at 10:30 am. This all-outdoors event is such a sweet memory for your family. The Easter Bunny will be visiting for photos and fun!

Birmingham Highlight: General

The Forest Park Historic District is quickly becoming one of the most romantic streets in Birmingham. In just a short walk, you can frolic through the garden of your dreams at Shoppe, have a cocktail at Juniper’s botanical oasis, give your hair a little love at Dream Boat, AND take a stroll though the most endearing general store and cafe that Birmingham has ever seen, General.

General is the neighborhood cafe and general store that dreams are made of. When you enter this local sanctuary you will immediately feel like you’ve been transported to an artisan playground. Every square foot is drenched in character. From the hand-painted murals to the ornate floral arrangements, the ambiance is flawless.

The pastry case is ALWAYS calling us. Our friends at Last Call Baking will never leave you disappointed. These little delicacies are in high demand and we know why. This isn’t your typical cookie and danish situation. The pastries at General are always unexpected and elevated. The flavor selection and artistry that go behind these confections are incredible. Don’t just take our word for it, you must visit yourself. While we have tried almost every pastry they have to offer, on this visit we thoroughly enjoyed the Elote Corn Croissant, Olive Oil cake, and Japanese Almond Bread. The Olive Oil cake had just come out of the oven and was still warm - we devoured it in record time.

General serves lunch from 11am-3pm Thursday through Saturday. We tried the Chicken Salad Plate and the Mac Grilled Cheese - phenomenal. The lunch dishes are all extremely fresh and made with intention. Everything is an experience.

The general store is hard to put into words. It feels both effortless and ethereal. Every item begs to be held. There is a little bit of everything here. You could find a house-warming gift or a self care splurge for yourself. General has something special for every room in your home. Even their restrooms are a vibe. It is very clear that not a detail goes unnoticed and we are in awe of every element.

If you would like to see a little bit of the magic for yourself, you can follow them on instagram or visit their website. Whether you’re in need of a latte and a cozy window seat or a unique place to impress your friends, we know you will feel significant here.

Galentines Date at Juniper

Most of us grew up captivated by Disney films. In these movies, we were able to place ourselves in the front and center of a fairytale. It’s impossible to forget the feeling of wonder that came when Alice stumbled upon the enchanted garden in Alice in Wonderland. The excitement of being immersed in a valley of life-sized blooms felt indescribable. Birmingham’s new dream girl, Juniper, feels like that.

Juniper is an awe-inspiring cocktail bar and restaurant nestled in the heart of the beautiful Forest Park historic district. The lush outdoor garden courtyard and whimsical botanical interior are reminiscent of ornate gin palaces popular during the Victorian era. This is your neighborhood bar, reimagined.

Upon entering Juniper, you immediately feel like you’ve left Birmingham and have fallen down the rabbit hole to enchantment. If the immersive decor wasn’t enough, Juniper sets the scene with their mood lighting and ambient nature. Although gin focused, their inventive craft cocktail menu features a wide array of spirits, in addition to aperitifs, wine and beer. Let’s talk our favorite cocktails….

Trying the gin based cocktails at Juniper was genuinely unlike any other drink experience we’ve ever had. Birmingham is known for its innovative bar scene, but Juniper has exponentially raised the beverage bar.

Juniper’s phenomenal team didn’t skip a beat when giving us the best recommendations. We love a team that is well-read on the menu. Every person we met on staff was so incredibly warm and inviting. Allison gave us the full run-down of her favorite cocktails and what made them special, which made ordering easy and intentional.

Jillian ordered the Bengal Merchant. This cocktail was rich and exotic. It was a gorgeous blend of matcha, orgeat, and lime. This beverage was delicious with beautiful depth and the soothing light green color makes for the perfect photo op.

Laine ordered the house specialty, The Buzzword. This cocktail lives up to its name in a very real way. This beverage comes with a deceivingly innocent szechuan flower bud (also known as a Buzz Button) on top. Once you take a bite of the flower bud, your mouth immediately starts to tingle and you feel a sensation that neither of us had ever experienced before - truly REMARKABLE. This sensation goes beyond taste. The effervescent, Champagne-like zing takes over slowly, dancing around the top of the tongue before giving way to a surprisingly welcome numbing, cooling effect. This sensation paired with the cocktail is true magic. We highly recommend trying the cocktail before and after biting the szechuan flower so you can fully experience the difference.

The small plates at Juniper need praises of their own. We devoured the Duck Fat Fries and Crab Cakes. Next time we decided to bring more friends so that we can try MORE of this brilliant menu. The flavors and textures in these small plates are a harmonious work of art. If you are craving something sweet, they have a bread pudding that looks to be a creation of the gods.

Go ahead and give yourself bragging rights if you recommend Juniper for your next date night or hangout. This little sanctuary is something that demands to be experienced and we cannot wait to hear about your favorites. Visit their website here to check out their hours so you can plan your next visit.

If you would like to see Juniper in action, you can watch our latest Instagram Reel HERE.