1. Easter chocolate hunts for all ages

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Stock up on everyone’s favourite chocolate! Hotel Chocolat’s giant family-friendly Extra Thick Eggs are back (there are eight to choose from including vegan ones with biodegradable, compostable, and 100% recyclable packaging); they have cute bunnies, lambs and chicks plus £5.95 boxes of delicious chocolate eggs that are perfect for setting up hunts on Easter Sunday (you can also find cute baskets for them to carry at Primark and Hobbycraft). For lovers of Dubai chocolate, there are even pistachio bow-tie bunnies.

Also look out for egg-stra special chocolate at Marks & Spencer including Flossy the Highland Cow, Made Without Dairy Rocky Road Eggs and (for those who don’t like chocolate) M&S Easter Colin The Caterpillar Woodland Egg-venture sweets. Discover more delights at Morrisons, Poundland and Asda Living while Holland & Barrett is great for vegan and dairy-free finds.

2. Make some personalised gifts for Easter

There are so many brilliant crafting gifts for kids to make friends, mum and dad and grandparents. Hobbycraft has paint-your-own eggs, mugs, plates and decorations or make fun Easter cards with crafting bits and pieces from The Works, Asda Living and Poundland.

Design your own bath bombs at Lush, pick up a personalised charm from Pandora or choose bits and pieces of beauty at Rituals, Primark, Boots and Superdrug.

3. Easy (and free) days out with the kids

Keep an eye for kids-eat-free offers at Teesside Park here (Pizza Hut, Pizza Express and TGI Fridays are great for offers). Bookmark the Teesside Park calendar for what’s on all year round, too.

4. Inspired Easter recipes and baking

Keep them occupied in the holidays with some easy baking ideas. Pancakes shaped like bunnies and decorated with fruit, mini egg cupcakes and easy lemon drizzle cake are all simple and fun ways to get them in the kitchen without losing your mind.

@baking_with_kids and @eatingwiththekids are both great Instagrammers filled with do-able recipes. Pick up handy ingredients at Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Poundland and Asda Living.

5. Discover cute alternative Easter gifts

If the kids are likely to get <all> the chocolate at Easter, pick them up something that’ll last longer. There’s fun interactive books galore at WH Smith, The Works and Asda Living (We’re Going on an Egg Hunt by Martha Mumford and Laura Hughes is always popular) plus all sorts of finds at TK Maxx, Lush, Poundland and Primark. For babies and younger children, Mamas & Papas have learning toys for all ages.

6. Enjoy a family crafting class

From Easter bonnets to clay chicks and Easter character making, Hobbycraft hosts all sorts of fun classes for kids. From ages 3+ to adults, unleash your creative side, learn new skills and have a really fun time creating something for spring. See all the classes here.

7. Go for an active day out

Based on the TV show, Ninja Warrior is an adventure park designed to get you climbing over obstacles and swinging on ropes. With a warped wall and inflatables plus pizza and fries, chocolate-covered donuts and Belgian waffles, it’s a brilliant day out for kids four and over. Book here. Or head to Hollywood Bowl, for a game of ten-pin bowling with 31 lanes, mini golf, an amusement arcade and American-style diner. Book here.

8. Find your spring outfits

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Refreshing pastels of blue and pink are back for spring 2025 at Mango, River Island, Primark and Next while Nike leopard-print trainers and schuh ballet flats are ones to watch for women – and silver jewellery is having a comeback for summer at Pandora, Market Cross Jewellers, Next, River Island and TK Maxx. Don’t miss this season’s beauty – cherry girl, satin skin and mineral sunscreen – at Rituals, Next, TK Maxx, Boots and Superdrug.

For guys, varsity jackets, loafers and slim crop-fit jeans are taking over Clarks, TK Maxx, Marks & Spencer and Mango.

When it comes to kids’ new wardrobes, it’s all about spring-inspired bunny, cheery and carrot patterns (see Marks & Spencer’s fun two-piece set for boys), cute quilted jackets, new season trainers and practical hats to keep the sun out of their eyes at Asda Living, Primark and Mamas & Papas.

9. Easter food and drink treats and hosting

Start planning for your Easter get-togethers now. Hot cross buns, Simnel cakes, roast lamb with mint sauce, morning mimosas and spring veg are the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of the warmer weather. Head to Marks & Spencer for inspiration.

10. Create some DIY decorations

One of the biggest looks for homewares this Easter is a DIY statement decoration – fill a vase with pretty sticks then hang your own homemade decorations from the stems (painted glass eggs, pom pom chicks and paper butterflies from beautiful strips of ribbon) or this season’s wooden eggs. Or, simply select a gorgeous bunch of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths for your mantelpiece.

You can also create a gorgeous Easter wreath for your front door; make your own painted napkin holders; design gorgeous signs for an at-home Easter egg hunt and string up pastel-coloured paper garlands. Be inspired at Hobbycraft, B&M, The Works, Asda Living and Poundland.

11. See a movie together

Snow White is out 21st March and Minecraft the Movie is out on 4th April – perfect for the Easter holidays. Showcase Cinema de Lux at Teesside Park also has a host of special musical, opera, dance and kids’ screenings so keep an eye on their calendar here.

12. Book a family celebration together

Don’t fancy doing all the cooking? Book in for a family feast at one of Teesside Park’s welcoming restaurants. For laidback days head to Five Guys and Nando’s or bigger get-togethers, there’s TGI Fridays, Pizza Express and wagamama.

13. Fun Easter kids’ crafting

Get creative with paper bunny ears, felt decorations, DIY giant egg jigsaws (cut some cardboard into a giant egg shape, paint it then cut into pieces) and Easter garden sets (paint an egg box and fill with baby chicks). Or pick up some spring seeds and get gardening. Follow @craftedbybears and @raisinglittlejess for some great crafting ideas. Hobbycraft, B&M, The Works, Asda Living and Poundland have everything you need.

14. Mini home makeovers

Finally, it’s time for a spring clean with bright shades of yellow, baby pink and greens. Recycle outgrown clothes at River Island (and get £5 voucher) as well as at TK Maxx. Add some new-season brightness with beautiful cushions, vases and accessories you’ll love from Next, TK Maxx, Primark and Marks & Spencer.

For offers and menus go to @teesside_park; sign up for the latest news here