Easter is a great time of year to host a get-together. Spring is in the air, the flowers are blooming and the birds are singing. We’re ready to get out of the winter doldrums and address the new season with a social event. One of the best ways to welcome spring and celebrate Easter is with a brunch that includes the whole family. And, hosting such an event needn’t be time consuming or difficult.

An Easter brunch should include both adults and children alike, so you should plan a menu and activities that suit every age. An Easter egg hunt is a must; try pairing kids up with an adult so that you can make hiding places a bit more difficult. An Easter bonnet contest is a fun activity, too. Have all the ladies and little girls wear their finest Easter hat and have a prize for the most festive.

A good format for the party is as follows:

• Serve brunch
• Have Easter egg hunt and other fun activities
• Serve dessert

Your menu should focus on traditional Easter foods – ham and eggs. Quiche and ham biscuits are great main dish items with some light salads and an assortment of muffins, scones and pastries. This allows your menu to be “no fuss” so that you can enjoy the party without fussing for hours in the kitchen.

A summery punch made with orange juice is a great beverage for an Easter brunch. Also consider having juice boxes available for when the children are tired from hunting Easter eggs. There are lots of options for dessert. Coconut cake for the adults with festive cupcakes for the kids is a simple, yet crowd pleasing menu.

Decorating for an Easter brunch is great fun. Dye colorful eggs to hang in the trees in your yard, and have an egg tree in your home, too. Use beautiful pastel plates and serving dishes and don’t forget to have an abundance of fresh spring flowers in the house. Little bunny statues peeking out make an adorable decoration. However, you’re not limited to things that scream “Easter”. Any spring decorations will be beautiful.

Invite your guests well in advance as many people have lots of family commitments for Easter. Time your brunch so that people have time to attend church beforehand. If you find that Easter Sunday is too busy to host a brunch or that too many people are unavailable, have your brunch the weekend before Easter, or on Saturday instead of Sunday. There’s no reason we can’t celebrate spring and Easter for an extended period of time! MyExpression.com has a great assortment of spring and Easter invitations that would be perfect for a brunch. My favorite is called Bunny Hunt.

Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate with friends and family. It’s usually warm enough to have some fun outdoors and it’s a holiday that lends itself to fun family activities. If you’ve never hosted an Easter brunch, you’re in for a fantastic spring celebration.