Weekend: Easter fun to dye for

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Easter fun to dye for

Grab your baskets and your chicks for a weekend filled with egg hunts and more.

By Times Staff Writer

The Easter Bunny will be busy this weekend all across the Tampa Bay area. There are egg hunts above ground, below water and by orangutans, all to mark Easter weekend.

Here are highlights of some of the fun:

EGGSTRAVAGANZA! The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's annual event won't have an egg hunt this year because of construction in Curtis Hixon Park, but the event at 9 a.m. Saturday will include breakfast, a musical performance by the Battersby Duo, photos with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, crafts and face painting. On the grounds of the center, 1010 N MacInnes Place, Tampa. (813) 229-7827. Free.

GULFPORT SPRING FESTIVAL AND EASTER EGG HUNT: This annual event includes fine arts and crafts, the Florida West Coast Region AACA Auto Show, a business showcase, music, children's crafts, storytelling and an Easter egg hunt. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday along Beach and Shore boulevards in Gulfport's waterfront district. Kids 8 and younger may have pictures taken with the Easter Bunny beginning at 9 a.m. ($2), followed by an egg hunt (bring a basket) at 10 at the Gulfport Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S. (727) 893-1000. Free.

EGG HUNT IN PINELLAS PARK: 9 a.m. Saturday, Town Square Park, 52nd Street and 80th Avenue N, Pinellas Park. (727) 391-8308. Free.

EGG HUNT IN CLEARWATER: 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Also includes arts and crafts and refreshments for ages 10 and younger. Countryside Recreation Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Drive, Clearwater. (727) 669-1914. Free.

EGG HUNT IN NEW PORT RICHEY: Expect 50,000 eggs, plus games, a petting farm, train rides, cookie decorating, face painting and more on Saturday. Egg hunts are scheduled by age groups: ages 2 to 3 at 10:30 a.m.; ages 4 to 5 at 11:15 a.m.; ages 6 to 7 at noon; ages 8 to 9 at 12:45 p.m.; and ages 10 to 12 at 1:30 p.m. All on the grounds of Calvary Chapel Worship Center, 6825 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey. (727) 376-7733. Free.

EGG HUNT AND FESTIVAL IN BRADENTON: The Manatee County Parks and Recreation Department on Saturday sponsors an egg hunt for ages 3 to 8 with 25,000 candy-filled eggs, the Easter Bunny, story theater and children's carnival games. 8:30-11:30 a.m., with egg hunts by age group starting at 9:30 at the G.T. Bray softball complex, 5504 33rd Avenue Drive W, Bradenton. Fees for carnival activities, food. (941) 742-5974.

UNDERWATER EGG HUNTS: Eggs will be spread in the kiddie pool at Weeki Wachee Springs for the smallest hunters and along the beachfront for older children on Saturday. Ages 1 to 3 can search for eggs in the kiddie pool at noon, with hunts at the beachfront area for ages 4 to 6 at 1 p.m., ages 7 to 9 at 2 p.m. and ages 10 to 12 at 3 p.m. Children should bring baskets. Weeki Wachee Springs, U.S. 19 (Commercial Way) and State Road 50, Weeki Wachee. Included in regular admission: $18.95 adult, $14.95 children. (352) 596-2062.

ORANGUTAN EGG HUNT: Spectators can watch the orangutans get in on the egg-hunting fun at 11 a.m. Sunday at Lowry Park Zoo's primate exhibit. The zoo is at 1101 W Sligh Ave., Tampa. Admission is $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors 50 and older and $5.95 for ages 3-11. (813) 935-8552 or www.lowryparkzoo.com.