story by Tara Derock Mahoney
art by Angelina Bellebuono and Summer Stevens

Put your right foot forward, put your left foot out—and do the bunny hop, hop, hop to a basket-ful of local, seasonal events this week.
As Easter Sunday approaches, there is a celebration for everyone in Morgan County. And whether you seek a purely spiritual or completely secular celebration—or some combination of the two—you can find it in Madison, Buckhead, Rutledge or their environs this week.
On March 15 at 9 a.m., the City of Madison will get the festivals started with its first-ever “Breakfast with the Bunny” at Town 220 Bistro, 220 West Washington in Madison. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children (advance tickets recommended, available at the city’s planning department at the corner of North Main and High Street) and include a full breakfast buffet—dining with the Easter bunny, of course—games, and door-prize Easter baskets provided by downtown merchants. “Breakfast with the Bunny” will be followed by Easter tales at Dog Ear books (in the same building as Town 220, but around the corner at 142 Academy Street) at 11 a.m.
“There will be games and fun for the whole family,” said Madison Main Street director Ann Huff. “We’ll have breakfast with the bunny, play games, give out door prizes, then head down to Dog Ear books at 11 a.m. for story time.”
The bunny breakfast will be followed on March 22 by the annual Easter Egg Hunt at Heritage Park, sponsored by the Morgan County Recreation Department. That event is free, and begins at 1 p.m. Bring your own basket!
Easter is, of course, a high holy day for Christian churches everywhere, and in Morgan County nearly every church will have its own observance celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Check with your church for specific events, or attend celebrations at one of the following churches that provided information about their services to the Morgan County Citizen:
Palm Sunday Weekend
Downtown Madison churches will participate in the annual Palm Sunday procession between churches on March 16, beginning at the Madison Presbyterian Church, 382 South Main Street, at 10 a.m. and including the Madison Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Calvary Baptist Church, and the First United Methodist Church.
Centennial Baptist Church will present its “Water of Life—Easter Passion/Dramatic Musical” on March 15 & 16 at 7 p.m. It’s free; call 706.557.2120 for more information. Centennial will also host an egg hunt/Easter message at 10 a.m. on March 15 at the Philadelphia School in Rutledge. Rutledge Baptist Church will host an Easter egg hunt in Rutledge City Park at 10 a.m. on March 15.
Beacon Heights Baptist Church, 1051 Carmichael Road,Madison, will present the drama, “Behold the Lamb,” at 6 p.m. on March 16.
Holy Week Observances
The Madison Baptist Church will present its annual “Living Last Supper” on March 19 at 6:30 p.m. and March 20 at 7 p.m., at 328 South Main Street.
Madison Presbyterian Church will hold a Maundy Thursday Communion Service on March 20 at 7 p.m., as well as a Good Friday Tenebrae Service on March 21 at 7 p.m.
St. James Catholic Church, 562 Vine Street in Madison, will hold a variety of Holy Week services, beginning with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7 p.m. on Holy Thursday; on Good Friday, services include the Seven Last Words of Christ at noon, Stations of the Cross at 2:30 p.m., the Novena of the Divine Mercy at 3 p.m., and the celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7 p.m.
Easter Weekend
Brownwood Baptist Church will host an egg hunt/Easter message at 10 a.m. on March 22 at 1521 Thankful Road in Madison. New Hope Baptist Church will hold its Easter celebration at 11 a.m. on March 22 at 1400 Farmington Road. Buckhead Baptist Church will hold an egg hunt/Easter message service at 10:30 a.m. on March 22 at 1061 Parks Mill Road. For all the above services at area Baptist churches, call 706.557.2120 for more information.
Madison Presbyterian Church will hold an Easter egg hunt at Hundred Acre Farm, 1051 Meadow Lane in Madison, at 11 a.m. on March 22; the church will also hold an Easter Sunrise Service at 7:30 a.m. at Hundred Acre Farm on March 23. An 8:45 a.m. Worship Service, 9:45 a.m. Easter Brunch, and 11 a.m. Worship Service will take place at the church at 382 South Main Street on Easter Sunday.
On Holy Saturday, St. James Catholic Church will celebrate with a 9 p.m. Easter Vigil service, and on Easter Sunday both 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. (Spanish-language) Masses will be available.
Not last and not least, an Easter Sunrise Service will be held in the city park in downtown Rutledge on March 23.
Have a Happy Easter—walk with a spring in your step!