Easter weekend will offer several spring festivities for all ages in downtown St. Joseph. Residents and visitors are encouraged to brush off the winter season at the “It’s Finally Friday” Spring Break event. This downtown experience will offer refreshments, warmer weather-inspired open houses, special sales, giveaways and more.
More fun will happen on Saturday, with the Easter Eggstravaganza from 11 a.m.  to 1 p.m. New activities and familiar characters can be found on the streets and in the stores of downtown St. Joseph. Attendees will have the chance to:
• Hunt for golden Easter eggs: Local merchants offer an egg hunt, receive a golden egg and win special prizes. Participating locations only, stop by the welcome center for a list of locations.
• Visit with the Easter Bunny, don’t miss this opportunity to snap a photo.
• Take a horse drawn trolley ride (noon to 3 p.m.): Sponsored by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation, the trolley picks up at the corner of State and Elm Streets, weather permitting.
• Enjoy magical performances by magician John Dudley on State Street.
• Check out a balloon artist and face painter, all on State Street (for a fee).
• Visit Kilwin’s for free ice cream treats — limited to the first 300 kids that stop by.
The fun is scheduled to continue that afternoon as the Easter Bunny, magician, face painter and balloon artist head to the Silver Beach Carousel from 2 to 4 p.m.
For more information about Easter weekend activities or upcoming spring events, visit stjoetoday.com, facebook.com/stjoetoday or call (269) 985-1111.
Spring Break St. Joseph destinations include The Candlestick Maker, Chartreuse: A Local Art Co-Op, Days of Yore Antiques & Collectibles, Edgewater Gifts, Eve, FuzzyButz, G & M Variety, Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Lighthouse Fibers, Perennial Accents, Purely Michigan, Schaller Gallery, South Bend Chocolate Café, State Street Antiques and Third Coast Surf Shop.

Looking for something else to do this Easter weekend? Here is a list of other events taking place throughout Michiana:

New Buffalo
• New Buffalo’s annual Easter egg hunt will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Oselka Park. Children up to 12 years of age can participate. Each child will receive a goodie basket and have a chance to meet the Easter Bunny. The child that finds the golden egg will win the grand prize basket.

Niles
• Fairland Christian Church of Niles, 1811 River Bluff, hosts a free Community Easter Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. Friday.
• An Easter Brunch prepared by Chef Tim Carrigan will be held at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature preserve from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Menu includes carved honeybaked ham, chicken Marsala, candied baby carrots, wild rice, roasted redskin potatoes with garlic butter, assorted salads, dessert table, beverages, and rolls and butter. Between 10 and 11 a.m., a breakfast casserole is added to the menu. Seating is by reservation only. Adults $15.95, children 6 to 12 $7.95, kids younger than 5 and under are admitted free.
• A community Good Friday service presented by NAMA, a group of churches, is at 7 p.m. Friday at First Missionary Church, 33332 U.S. 12 in Niles.

Dowagiac
• A rock-n-roll Easter event will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pokagon United Methodist Church, 31393 Kansas St. in Dowagiac.

Cassopolis
• Penn Friends Community Church, 19107 Penn Road in Cassopolis, hosts an Easter musical, “The Sacrifice: Greater Love Has No One Than This,” at 7 p.m. Friday.