Here comes Peter Cottontail, hoppin' down the bunny trail. Easter weekend is approaching. The celebration of new life, sunrise church services, Easter egg hunts and large, family meals are in our near future. And the children are excited about... the Easter Bunny, that cute, furry, ginormous rabbit that supposedly sneaks in our homes on Easter Eve to leave jelly beans and chocolate in our Easter baskets. When you stop and think about it, it's a little... well, interesting. Why doesn't a goldfish leave Lincoln Logs in my sock drawer, or a squirrel leave flash cards in my baseball cap? Could David Hasselhoff leave money in my coffee mug? There were so many possible choices, but ultimately, a bunny won the coveted position and was charged with bringing candy to our children. So in anticipation of the sweet crème eggs, peeps, and chocolate bunnies that will grace our baskets, let's hop out into the community and enjoy the many festivities in the Atlanta area this weekend!
It's been a long week, so wind down Friday night with dinner in Atlanta and the Mat Kearney concert at the Tabernacle. Missed the egg hunts from last weekend? You still have a chance to visit the beautiful Panola State Park for a most fantastic one this Saturday. Park trails will be lined with eggs for children, ages 1-11, to excitedly hunt. Kids will also enjoy prizes, story time and a bring-your-own picnic lunch. In search of a beautiful outdoor church service this Sunday? First Baptist of Covington hosts the Easter Service in the Square at 10 a.m. After church, walk to any of the local businesses to enjoy lunch, ice cream or a coffee. Then stay around for the afternoon Community Bike Ride. Pump up your wheels, put on your helmet and enjoy a 4.5 mile downtown Covington bike ride with a guide and new friends. Want more? Stay for additional riding on the Eastside Trail.
Easter Egg Hunt at Panola Mountain State Park
Saturday, Apr. 4, 10am-noon
Cost: $1 plus $5 parking
Peter Cottontail is leaving lots of eggs hidden on our nature trails this spring. Bring your basket and picnic to spend the day at the park. Ages 1-5 and 6-11 will have their own trails to search for eggs and prizes. We will start the egg hunt at 10am, leaving plenty of time for story-time before lunch. Contact 770.389.7801 for more info.
http://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain/
Easter Service on the Square
Sunday, Apr. 5, 10 am
Cost: Free
Come one come all. Join First Baptist Church for a beautiful Easter Service in the Covington Square Park. Contact 770.786.9031 or www.firstbaptistcovington.com for more information.
http://www.firstbaptistcovington.com/
Mat Kearney
Friday, Apr. 3, 8pm
Cost: $26.50 and up
Check out singer/songwriter Mat Kearney when he visits the Tabernacle in Atlanta this Friday. Kearney's fresh sound with a blend of folk and hip-hop music has secured him tours with Owl City and other popular artists, as well as had him spotlighted on several shows like ABC's Grey's Anatomy. It's sure to be a fantastic show!
http://www.tabernacleatl.com/
Community Bike Ride
Sunday, Apr. 5, 3pm
Cost: Free
What a beautiful time of year in Georgia to get out for a bike ride. Head on down to the Covington Square to start your 4.5 mile loop around downtown, then for more riding, continue on to the scenic Eastside Trail. Make new friends! Helmets required.
http://www.newtontrails.org/#!community-bike-ride/c18sl
Calendar of Local Events Easter Weekend:
Saturday, April 4
Easter egg hunt celebration
10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Parkwood Farms Therapy Center, 2519 Parkwood Rd, Snellville; For children of all ages and abilities; Enjoy photo opportunities, crafts, and fun for all; Child ID kits available for $5 each (onsite completion assistance available); Tom McPike, tom.mcpike@rockdalecounty.org; 770-278-7249
Community Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Smyrna Presbyterian, 2920 Ga. Hwy 212, Conyers; 770-483-8962, smyrnapc1827@gmail.com
Egg-stravaganza Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m.-noon; Social Circle Elementary School; 10:30 a.m. for 0-2 years; 10:45 a.m. for 3-5 years; 11 a.m. for 6-12 years.
Crossroads Baptist Church Easter Egg Hunt
10 a.m.; CrossRoads Baptist Church, 227 County Road 229, Social Circle; Easter Egg hunt with more than 5,000 eggs; free hot dogs, chips and drinks after the hunt.
Community Easter Egg Hunt
Noon; Emmanuel Community Church, 1821 Walker Rd, Conyers, next to fire station; 678-413-3603, www.emmanuelconyers.com
Allen Memorial UMC Easter Egg Hunt
2 p.m.; Allen Memorial UMC annual Easter Egg Hunt; 803 Whatcoat St., Oxford 30054. 770-786-7414.
Sunday, April 5
(Most churches hold Easter services; here are just a few from around the county):
Community Sonrise Service, by the Interdenominational Movement for Pastoral Accountability Collaboration and Training (IMPACT), 6 a.m., at Bald Rock Baptist Church, 2284 Old Covington Rd, Conyers
Monastery of the Holy Spirit, 2625 Ga. Hwy 212 SW, Conyers; 4:20 a.m. Easter Vigil, 11 a.m. Easter Day Mass;
Church of New Beginnings, 3180 Ga. Hwy 20 South, Conyers; 7:45 a.m.
Rockdale Baptist Church, 1295 Smyrna Rd, Conyers; 7 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 11 a.m.
Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Dr, Conyers; 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.
Conyers First UMC, 921 North Main St NW, Conyers, 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Conyers First Baptist Church, 2100 Ga. Hwy 138 NE, Conyers; 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Discover Point, 1605 Ga. Hwy 138 SE, Conyers; 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon
St Pius X Catholic Church, 2621 GA Highway 20 SE Conyers, 30013; 7 a.m., 9 a.m. Folk Choir, 11 a.m. St. Cecilia's Choir, 1 p.m. (Spanish)
Antioch AME Easter Worship at Stone Mountain Campus 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m., Children's Witness worship at noon; Antioch AME Church, Conyers Campus 1790 Ebenezer Rd., Conyers; Stone Mountain Campus 765 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain; (404) 299-3388
Sunrise Service at Stone Mountain, 7 a.m.
Monday, April 6
Free square dancing lessons
7-9 p.m., April 6 and 13; First Presbyterian Church of Covington (Fellowship Hall); Free Square Dance Lessons; Sponsored by the Newton Hayriders Square Dance Club; Mary Jane 770-843-7116; Edna Sutherland 770-786-1024, ahsuther@bellsouth.net
Wednesday, April 8
RMC Auxiliary Book Sale
10 a.m.- 5 p.m. April 8, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. April 9; Rockdale Medical Center, East Tower, Classroom 3; MC Volunteer Auxiliary will be sponsoring a Books Are Fun sale; proceeds benefit RMC patient care; Cash, Checks, Credit Cards accepted
Job seekers workshop
11 a.m., at the Conyers-Rockdale Library, 864 Green Street, Conyers, in the classroom on the lower level; learn how to use Reference USA database; Registration required, call 770-388-5041 ext. 118
Thursday, April 9
Lunch and Learn: Trees and Shrubs
Noon-1pm; 1400 Parker Rd., Conyers; (770) 278-7373; $5 gardening class, Trees and Shrubs of Interest to Southern Gardeners. Bring your lunch and learn about gardening from Rockdale County Extension Agent Steve Pettis and Rockdale Master Gardeners; (770) 278-7373, pettis1@uga.edu
Saturday, April 11
East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers
10 a.m.- noon; at Ga Piedmont Technical College's Newton Campus, Bldg. D, 8100 Bob Williams Parkway, Covington; 404-444-7514 or 770-784-0079
