Easter Blooming With Egg Hunts and Services; Harmonicas at Harry Griffen Park

Tails will be a-hoppin’ throughout the county as folks gear up to hunt eggs, shake a bunny tail and pay heed as Easter Sunday approaches.

The holiday weekend features chances to search for goodies aplenty, as many cities and groups host egg hunts and encounters with a certain big white furry guy. 

In nonholiday happenings near La Mesa and beyond from April 21-27, the Barrio Logan community celebrates Chicano Park’s 41st anniversary. And someone at the San Diego Opera has a devilish sense of humor, debuting Faust the day before Easter. 

Click the links for more details.

CLOSE TO HOME

• Where/when: , 6845 University Ave, San Diego, 10 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: The Kroc Hop Bunny Drop stars the Easter bunny, naturally, with some musical accompaniment and a little bouncing (in houses) and climbing (on rock walls) to boot.

• Price: Free for hunt; can purchase a $5 pass to use venue amenities.

• Where/when: Harry Griffen Regional Park, 9550 Milden St., La Mesa, noon Saturday.

• Why Go: The 12th annual Spring Harp Fest features harmonica performers supporting a cause—the effort to get more music instruction into schools.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Mt. Helix Park, 4905 Mount Helix Dr, La Mesa, 7 a.m. Sunday.

• Why Go: Calvary Church of La Mesa hosts the sunrise Easter service. Shuttles will run to the site starting at 6 a.m.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: Grossmont College, 8800 Grossmont College Dr, El Cajon, 7 p.m. Monday.

• Why Go: The college kicks off the 15th annual Literary Arts Festival with a screening of Bastard Out of Carolina, from the novel by Dorothy Allison, who is one of the authors being honored. She will appear Wednesday. Continues through May 5.

• Price: Free.

BEST BETS, A LITTLE FARTHER OUT

• Where/when: Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, Thursday through Sunday.

• Why Go: The Del Mar National Horse Show kicks off a three-week run with the Western competition. Dressage and jumping competitions follow in the coming weeks.

• Price: $10-18, though some shows are free.

• Where/when: Chicano Park, National Avenue and Dewey Street, San Diego, 10 a.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: The community celebrates another anniversary for the park, decorated by murals that document the history of the neighborhood and the protests that helped lead to the founding of the park. This year's theme focuses on education.

• Price: Free.

• Where/when: San Diego Civic Theater, 1200 Third Ave., San Diego, 7 p.m. Saturday.

• Why Go: It’s hard to reclaim one’s soul, according to Gounod's Faust, if one decides to part with it in exchange for material pleasure. San Diego Opera tells the tale; four performances through May 1.

• Price: $35-$195.

• Where/when: Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, San Diego, Wednesday.

• Why Go: The La Jolla Playhouse takes its act a little south, by partnering to present Anna Deavere Smith’s Let Me Down Easy. Smith, perhaps mostly widely known for her stint on NBC’s the West Wing, is an accomplished theater performer. Through May 15.

• Price: $39-$53.