Harlem Animal Sanctuary is Getting Ready For The Easter Bunny!

You may remember a story we did about the non-profit Mad Hatter horse and farm animal sanctuary a few months ago.  Now Mad Hatter Farm in Harlem is preparing for "Easter on the Farm". This is a wonderful Easter event for special needs and adoptive/foster families in Harlem and the CSRA. Owner Jill Marier has created a permanent safe haven for neglected and surrendered farm animals. The 25-acre farm is also home to "Cassie's Care Farm". With wheelchair-accessible paths, the farm gives children with special needs the opportunity to get up close and personal with all kinds of animals from horses and donkeys to goats and sheep, baby chicks, bunnies, and pigs!

"Cassie's Care Farm" is a bit of a love letter from the Mariers in honor of their foster daughter who passed away.  Cassie left a beautiful legacy for so many other handicapped foster children by allowing them to experience farm life in a safe and healthy environment.

The sanctuary and care farm operates through donations and provides an invaluable service to so many within our community. One of the creative ways they raise money is through handmade products sold from "The Shed".  Products include handmade knitted items, tumblers, coffee cups, soaps, essential oil body butters, natural laundry detergent, and hair products. These items can be purchased on-site or in their Etsy store. Funds raised go towards the daily upkeep and maintenance that goes into taking care of so many animals. From feed to hay and medical and dental workups to fences and barns in need of repair or expansion, there is always a need for contributions from the CSRA. The Mad Hatter Farm provides comprehensive medical workups for all the animals including vaccinations, bloodwork, deworming, dental care, hoof care, chiropractic work, and everything in between and it can get costly!

"Easter on the Farm" is coming this spring with fun activities like an Easter egg hunt for foster care and adoptive families as well as special needs families! There will be tons of activities going on that will be handicap accessible so that all the children will be able to participate.  They'll be able to enjoy yummy treats, a princess, and even the Easter Bunny himself! The special needs Easter event in Harlem is sponsored by Greater Augusta Realtors and will feature food from Jake's BBQ, a candied fruit vendor, and SuzyQs coffee truck as well as face painting and lots of fun for everyone!

If you can, contribute to the wonderful work that Mad Hatter does for the children of our community.  If you'd like to donate to the operations of the sanctuary you can do that here.  You can also shop "The Shed" in person at 1602 Hinton Wilson Road in Harlem or from their website. All donations go towards providing a loving and safe environment for the children and the animals. And I can't think of a better cause!

Easter is right around the corner! Easter Sunday is March 31, 2024.  And you'll find many ways to celebrate happening throughout the month.  We've got a list of local Easter events in the CSRA below for you and your family to enjoy!

Easter is a holiday that is based on the Christian religion and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. According to the New Testament, the resurrection of Jesus occurred 3 days after his death by crucifixion. Britannica.com says the first recorded celebration of Easter happened in the 2nd century.

There are a few things that lead up to the celebration of Easter in the Christian religion. For many, it begins with Ash Wednesday, marking the first day of Lent.  This day is 40 days before Easter and is observed with fasting, prayer, and sacrifice.  Then there's Holy Week, including Holy Thursday.  This day is a celebration of Jesus' Last Supper.  It's also known as Maundy Thursday.  The week ends with Good Friday, which observes Jesus' crucifixion. And on Sunday, Easter is a celebration of Jesus' resurrection.

Unlike Christmas, which is always celebrated on the 25th day of December, the date for Easter changes.  When it comes to the date for Easter, in Western Christianity it falls between March 22nd and April 25th.  This is based on the Gregorian calendar. The date for Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.

Orthodox Easter differs slightly as it adheres to the Julian calendar.  The date falls between April 4th and May 8th.

There's some debate on where the term Easter originated. And despite being an observance that's religious in nature, some traditions and symbols associated with Easter actually have pagan origins. Read more about the history of Easter HERE.

There are various ways that people celebrate Easter. Some people start with the observance of Lent, while others simply observe Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  But all throughout the weeks leading up to Easter, you're sure to find a variety of events to celebrate, some are religious, while others aren't.

A few ideas for Easter celebrations:

And if you're hoping to find some local Easter events here in the CSRA, we've got you covered!  Check out the list below!

Let us know if you have any to add! Send an email.

Address: 

Augusta Campus- 600 Stevens Creek Road, Augusta
Grovetown Campus- 5050 High Meadows Drive, Grovetown
South Augusta Campus- 3358 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta

Enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. with fun for the whole family with an egg hunt, food, and more. Get more details on the event and RSVP on Facebook.

Address: 1186 Mount Calvary Road, Johnston, SC

Columbia County Parks, Recreation, and Events is hosting its annual Easter Egg Scramble at Patriots Park on Saturday, March 30, starting at 10 a.m. There will be 50,000 eggs for the kids to hunt and lots of fun for everyone. Food vendors will be on site and you'll have a chance for some great pictures. This is a FREE event!

Address: Patriots Park, 5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown, GA

Trinity on the Hill is hosting their annual Easter Extravaganza on Saturday, March 30 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. There will be an egg hunt, games, food trucks, a photo booth, inflatables, and a reflective "Stations of the Cross" experience. The event will take place in Wesley Hall, the parking lot, and around campus. This is a FREE event.

Address: 1330 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA

Address: Augusta Exchange Fairgrounds, 1101 4th Street, Augusta, GA

Address: 300 Warren Road, Augusta, GA

Enjoy a free Easter Egg Hunt at the Warren Road Community Center on Saturday afternoon. Events start at 3 p.m., with the egg hunt starting at 3:30 p.m. They'll also have inflatables, a kid's train, food, games, activities, and more.

Address: 1060 West Martintown Road, North Augusta, SC

TrueNorth Church is hosting various Easter services to fit your weekend plans.  They will have two Saturday afternoon services, along with two Sunday morning services. Their services are also streamed.  Get details on their website: truenorthchurch.com.

If you're looking for a place to enjoy Easter church services, Victory Baptist Church has three services to choose from. Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 31 at 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. You can get more information on their website.

Address: 620 West Martintown Road, North Augusta, SC