There will be no shortage of ways to celebrate Easter this weekend in Oxford whether you’re 1 or 101.

If it’s candy-filled eggs and visits with the Easter bunny you’re looking for, there are several events planned for the LOU community.

The largest egg hunt will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at FNC Park. Sponsored by the Oxford Park Commission, there will be 7,000 eggs for little ones to scramble to pick up and put into their Easter baskets, or in some cases, plastic grocery bags.

The Easter Bunny will make an appearance for pictures at this event. There also will be a petting zoo where kids can come and pet some friendly animals.

Along with the Easter Egg Hunt, and petting zoo, there will also be Touch-A-Truck event where children get a chance to get up close and personal with large vehicles like bulldozers, helicopters, dump trucks, police cars and fire engines.

Each age group will have a special prize egg, said Mike Young with OPC.

“It will be a golden egg or a camouflage egg,” he said. “It will be obvious it’s a special egg.”

Inside there will be a note instructing its finder to present the egg for a prize at the concession stand.

The event will take place near the softball field in Quad B.

And don’t be late, Young said.

“The egg hunt starts at 10 o’clock sharp,” he said.

Weather is predicted to a high of 71 under sunny skies. However, as Mississippi weather is unpredictable, Young said people should check OPC’s website, www.oxfordparkcommission.com, or social media sites for announcements on whether the event is rescheduled due to inclement weather.

Brookdale Oxford assisted living facility will hold an egg hunt at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Refreshments will be served. Brookdale is located at 100 Azalea Drive.

Grace Bible Church will hold its Spring Festival starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday where there will be games, egg decorating booths, bubbles, bounce houses, face painting and an egg hunt. Coffee and donuts will also be provided. The church is located at 39 County Road 4015.

March for Jesus

While Easter bunnies and colored eggs are part of the fun side of Easter, Pastor Edwin Smith with New Freedom Church of God in Christ welcomes everyone to begin the holiday weekend by remembering the “real reason for Easter” during its 11th annual March for Jesus that will begin 11:45 a.m. Friday at the Gertrude Ford Arts Center on University Avenue and end on the Lafayette County Courthouse lawn.

“We will have a brief but powerful service, with singing, scripture readings and brief meditation,” Smith said. “We started this march to give people an opportunity to share with the Oxford community the real reason for Easter. The true meaning gets lost in the commercialism aspect of the holiday. We just wanted to go out and be a silent witness for the Lord.”

For those who wish to worship and celebrate Easter outdoors, the Orchard Church and the University of Mississippi Wesley Foundation will have its annual Easter Sunday in the Grove at 11 a.m. Orchard Pastor Pat Ward said the church starting having the Easter service in the Grove about five years ago.

“It’s such an easy place to connect with more people from our community,” he said.

Ward said some people who don’t have a regular church may feel more comfortable coming to a service outdoors, while others just enjoy celebrating the holiday in the world God has made for them.

“Many people come and bring a picnic lunch and just enjoy being outside,” Ward said.

The church’s band will play worship music during the service. There will be an Easter message, some spoken word poetry and a few people will be baptized.

“Last year we estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people showed up to celebrate together,” Ward said.

Ward said the church invested in a larger sound system this year to make sure everyone can hear, no matter where they are in the Grove.

If it rains Sunday, there will be two services held at The Orchard at 9 and 11 a.m. Ward said to check the church’s website,www.theorchardoxford.net/Easter and church social media sites to see if the event is moved due to rainy weather.

Other Easter events include:

— Studio Whimzy, Easter egg decorating for ages 3 and up from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday. Charge is $25; Easter crafts and snacks for ages 3 and up, 9:30 a.m. To noon Friday. Charge is $20. Call 662-202-2895.

— Pampered Paws Animal Hospital will host an outdoor doggie Easter egg hunt and indoor activities like food and a photo booth from 5 to 7:30 p.m. tonight. Free event. For information, call Naomi at 662-236-9500.

— Mt. Pleasant M.B. Church will present an Easter play titled “The Story of Jesus” at 7 p.m. Friday. Everyone is invited. The Rev. William Johnson, senior pastor.

— Easter events at Pine Flat United Methodist Church will begin at 7 p.m. Friday with the Tenebrae Service. An Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday. A sunrise service will be held at 7 a.m. Easter Sunday followed by breakfast in the Fellowship Hall.