🌴 Happy Easter and April Events

Hey Palmetto Parents,

Thank you for the awesome feedback the last couple of weeks! Last week in particular, one parent gave me a tip for our restaurant highlight, Heavy’s Burger. They let me know that Heavy’s burger has a stacked gluten free menu. If you are gluten free, don’t forget to give them a try. Thank you for the tip, keep them coming.

This week we have some great info about events happening this month in Charleston. One more Easter themed event and then we move on to some fun things going on this month. We enjoy a peaceful bite at the Red Drum Gastro Pub in Mount Pleasant. Hint: it’s perfect for both kids and adults. Then we finish this weeks article with some tips for parenting during the chaos that is Easter Sunday. Enjoy!

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Last month we started something new… we are sharing the biggest events all in one place so you can plan your weekends ahead (because we all know how fast they fill up).

Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to do everything, but it’s a helpful way to see what’s coming and pick what works best for your family.

Here are a few of the major events happening this April:

• April 11 – Caw Caw Sunrise Yoga Series: Wednesday from 6:30am to 7:30am. A perfect way to achieve some inner peace before a full day of parenting!

• April 18 & 19 – High Water Festival: This will be a fun music festival for (mostly) adults to enjoy!

• April 24–26 & May 1–3 – Boone Hall Strawberry Festival: Enough said.

• April 26 – Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival: (Mount Pleasant) From 11am-5pm. Free family fun for all ages!

Save this, send it to a friend, and start penciling in your spring weekends!

Last week, we rounded up some of the best Easter events happening around Charleston. But there’s one more that was just too good not to share. Meeting Green is hosting their annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4th from 9am to 12pm, and it looks like the perfect stop for families.

This event has a little bit of everything, which makes it especially easy with kids. There will be an Easter egg hunt around the shop, plus crafts and games to keep everyone entertained. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around after hiding eggs, ready for photos and a few hellos, all surrounded by beautiful spring flowers.

Parents will appreciate that Livewire Coffee will be on site with their coffee truck, because chasing a toddler around feels 10x better with an iced late in hand. And if you’re already thinking about spring planting, you can shop while you’re there and even find special discounts hidden inside the eggs for a little extra fun.

It’s one of those easy, low-pressure events where you can show up, let the kids enjoy themselves, and soak in a little springtime without overcomplicating your day. Definitely a great extra stop to add to your Easter weekend plans.

Red Drum Gastro Pub is one of those rare spots that just works for this stage of life. It feels elevated without being fussy, making it perfect for a casual but still special date night, a night out with friends, or even a family dinner. You can absolutely bring your kids, and the patio is a great setup for that with plenty of space for them to sit and move around a bit. At the same time, it still manages to feel like a place where you can step away from the chaos of parenting for a couple of hours.

Inside, the atmosphere is rustic and charming, warm without trying too hard. Outside, the patio gives you that extra breathing room that parents always appreciate. There’s no designated play area, but the space itself makes it feel manageable and relaxed. It’s also the kind of place where you can show up in something casual or throw on a sundress and still feel perfectly in place. The bar was noticeably popular too, adding a fun, lively energy without taking away from the laid-back feel.

The menu has something for everyone in the best way. You’ll find burgers and salads alongside Mexican-inspired options, steak, and plenty of seafood. We started with the ceviche and added a side of guac, which may technically be optional, but never really feels that way. The skirt steak was a standout and absolutely worth ordering, full of flavor and cooked just right.

The cocktails are just as impressive. The Red Drum Margarita was a favorite one I’d go back for and they also offer a few seasonal cocktails that keep things interesting. It’s easy to settle in, enjoy your drink, and actually relax, which feels like a luxury in itself.

After more than 20 years, it’s easy to see why this spot has stuck around. It strikes that perfect balance of good food, welcoming atmosphere, and flexibility for whatever kind of night you need. Whether you’re bringing the kids or sneaking away for a date night, it’s a place that makes it easy to slow down and enjoy where you are.

At some point, Easter quietly turned into a production. Matching outfits, multiple events, baskets that look like you cleared out an entire aisle at Target. By Sunday afternoon, everyone’s a little sugared-up and a lot overstimulated, including you. So here it is: your permission to not go all out this year.

Because I’ve done both. I’ve done the full, packed, “we’re doing everything” Easter, and I’ve done the scaled-back, keep-it-simple version. And I can confidently say the simple one wins. Every time. Mostly because Monday still comes. Whether it’s work, school, or spring break chaos, there is nothing worse than starting the next day already exhausted from a holiday that was supposed to be fun.

One year, we did everything. Big baskets, church, brunch, outfit changes, another egg hunt, family visits, all of it. By the end of the day, the kids were melting down, we were exhausted, and I remember thinking, why did I do this to myself? The next year, we scaled it way back. Small baskets, one egg hunt, easy breakfast, outside time. And it was better. Everyone was happier, and I actually enjoyed my kids, which felt like a win.

Now we keep the day simple on purpose. The kids wake up and check their baskets, nothing wild, and we stay in pajamas a little longer than usual. If church is part of your family, we go, but we don’t try to stack a bunch of other things around it. We keep expectations realistic. The kids might be wiggly, someone will ask for a snack, and you might miss half the message. It still counts. We talk ahead of time about what Easter means in a way they can understand, nothing long or complicated, just enough to ground the day.

The rest of the day is intentionally low-key. We do an easy meal, nothing that turns into a full hosting situation, and then an egg hunt and outside time. No rushing from place to place, no second outfit unless absolutely necessary. It’s the kind of day that actually feels good to be in.

One thing that has made a huge difference for us is setting expectations the night before. We’ll casually say something like, the Easter Bunny is keeping things simple this year, or we’re doing a fun egg hunt tomorrow but it’s not a huge candy situation. It doesn’t ruin the magic. If anything, it helps them enjoy what they do get instead of wondering what’s missing.

We also talk about attitude, just briefly and without making it a whole thing. We’ll say, we’re going to have a fun day tomorrow, and the only thing we expect is kind attitudes and no complaining. Do they still complain sometimes? Of course. They’re kids. But saying it out loud ahead of time helps set the tone that the day is about being together, not just getting more stuff.

At the end of the day, Easter doesn’t need to be bigger to be better. A slower, simpler day means less stress for you, happier kids, and a much easier Monday morning. And honestly, that’s the kind of holiday most of us actually need, even if the Easter Bunny went a little light this year.

Have a great week and Hoppy Easter!

Love,

Jenna