This year, Easter will be very different from previous years on the mountain. It will, of course, be celebrated at all the local churches with Easter Sunday morning services. Many churches on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will also have afternoon or evening services. Contact your local church for times.

The mountain communities will have community Easter sunrise services on April 4 but they will also look different because of COVID restrictions.

The sunrise service usually held on the beach at the Lake Arrowhead Resort will not be held there this year. Instead, this year in the Lake Arrowhead area, many area churches, including Mt. Calvary Lutheran, Sandals, Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, St. Richards and Twin Peaks Community Church, have joined together with possibly another church or two to hold a sunrise service to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Forest Service land next to the little red cabin at the intersection of Highway 173 and Highway 18. The service will begin at 6:30 a.m. Because parking is available on the south side of the highway, it is also suggested to bring a flashlight to safely cross the road, bring folding chairs or blankets to sit on and dress warmly as it may be chilly.

In the Crestline area, the churches invite residents and visitors to come park in Lake Gregory’s North Shore parking lot and bring blankets and beach chairs to the sand at the north shore of the lake. The services will be held outside on the North Shore beach, where it is possible to socially distance in family-separated groups.

This service is sponsored by the Crestline First Baptist, Lake Gregory Community, Mountain Hope Center, New Life Christian Fellowship, The Savior’s Realm and Woodlands Community Bible churches. Each church will take a segment of the one-hour service and share the good news of the resurrection of Christ. As usual this year, there will be no parking fees, as those are sponsored by the Lake Gregory Community Recreation Company, which is also providing the staff and location for the services. Temperatures are predicted to be in the high 30s. The live music will be provided Woodlands Church. More details in the ad in this newspaper.

Due to COVID restrictions, the Crestline-Lake Gregory Chamber of Commerce was unable to offer the Duck Derby this year, but there will be two other Easter egg hunting events offered, by local groups. The chamber plans to offer the Duck Derby and egg hunt again next year.

On Saturday, April 3 at 9 a.m. at the Lake Gregory Church, located at 460 Pine Road in Valley of the Moon, they will be having an egg hunt for all who wish to participate, so bring a basket.

Also, on Saturday, from 1 to 5 p.m., Woodlands Church will be hosting a free Easter bunny trail with free games, eggs, fun and candy for the kids. The Treasure Box and Company’s hillside trail will be decked out with stations for candy, eggs and more. There will be a Mary Poppins and tea party vignette and the Easter Bunny will be there. In the playground area, there will be hot dogs and beverages, with fun music provided by the Woodlands Church band. There will be fun for the whole family in the playground area. Parking will be available at the Savior’s Realm Church parking lot next door. There will also be family fun at Castle Greyson at 23621 Manzanita Drive in Crestline.

In Running Springs, the chamber of commerce is offering an Easter Egg home delivery service for children up to 11 years of age. Families were asked register online at www.runningspringschamber.com or by emailing [email protected] by March 31.

All month Mr. G’s for Toys in Lake Arrowhead Village has been sponsoring a coloring contest. The coloring pages can be downloaded from the Village website or they can be picked up at the store. Winners will win a gift certificate to Mr. G’s Toys.

Lake Arrowhead Village will have virtual photos with the Easter Bunny as they did with Santa last December. Parents can upload a photo of their child, pet or family (with a white background if possible) and then they may choose a setting for the photo to be in. There will be links on the village website.

SkyPark at Santa’s Village will have a number of Easter Saturday activities. See the article on page 16 for details.