Jacksonville’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt at Riverfront Plaza

The City of Jacksonville hosted its largest Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 4, 2026, during an event called Riverfront Palooza at the Riverfront Plaza. The gathering drew large crowds of families and children to the downtown area for a series of holiday activities and community programming.

The event featured more than 25,000 eggs spread across the Riverfront Plaza. Mayor Donna Deegan initiated the festivities on Saturday morning with a countdown that signaled the start of the hunts.

Event Schedule and Participation

The Easter egg hunts were organized into age-specific time slots to manage the crowds and ensure fair participation. The hunts were conducted in two primary waves, with events starting in the morning and repeating in the early afternoon.

• Children ages 0-2 hunted at 10 a.m. And 12 p.m.
• Children ages 3-4 participated at 10:20 a.m. And 12:20 p.m.
• Children ages 5-7 hunted at 10:45 a.m. And 12:45 p.m.
• Children ages 8-10 participated at 11:10 a.m. And 1:10 p.m.
• Children ages 11-12 hunted at 11:30 a.m. And 1:35 p.m.

The city advised parents to bring their own Easter baskets, though the city provided bags for those who needed them. Parking for the attendees was made available in the garages surrounding the downtown event site.

Community Activities and Attractions

Beyond the egg hunts, Riverfront Palooza included various entertainment and family-oriented services. The event featured a live music DJ, face painting, and arts and crafts stations. Food and dessert trucks were also stationed at the plaza to serve attendees.

The event provided photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, who visited the north shore of the St. Johns River. Mayor Donna Deegan appeared at the plaza with her River City Readers Bookmobile, an initiative designed to promote literacy within the city.

The Riverfront Plaza Venue

The event took place at the Riverfront Plaza, located at 2 W. Independent Drive. The 6-acre site was converted into a green area to accommodate major holiday events. Prior to the April 4 egg hunt, the plaza served as the location for a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in December.