With its long holiday weekend, Easter offers a nice opportunity to host a get-together for friends and family. Whether you plan to handle the entire meal yourself or go potluck, an afternoon brunch is a great way to celebrate the season.

Make sure to send out invitations at least two weeks in advance, giving guests time to respond while allowing yourself time to make any final preparations. These festive chick- and bunny-shaped party invites are a cute way to announce the occasion and are easily mass produced.

Decorating for the gathering can be a simple affair. Just use the cues of the season--budding flowers, fresh colors, and of course, bunnies--to set the mood. Pile decorated eggs into attractive bowls or baskets, place arrangements of Easter lilies and pussy willows in corners, and set the table with an Easter theme. Sugar-coated fruit and flowers make an easy, yet elegant, Easter Centerpiece; individual Egg Bunnies can serve as place holders; and these Bunny Plates guarantee (food) service with a smile.

Have a quick welcoming craft to engage kids while guests arrive, like these Easter Bonnets or Easter Bunny Gear, to allow adults a chance to set up the (potluck) buffet or just mingle. Once their holiday finery is completed, kids can show their stuff in an informal Easter parade.

The meal, too, can continue the holiday theme. Deviled eggs and a platter of baby and sliced vegetables served with this dip-filled Peter Cauliflower Tail make appealing appetizers. For the main meal, serve up Hareless Potpies with loaves of Lion and Lamb Bread and tender greens, or try Easter Ham Sandwiches accompanied by new potato salad. An Easter Basket Cake or Garden Carrot Cake, complete with rows of marzipan vegetables, will provide a sweet finish to either menu.

For after-brunch entertainment, invite kids to participate in games. They can play the tag variation Fox and Rabbit, break into teams for a Tri-hop-athon, or head out individually on a Carrot Scavenger Hunt. For an extra special treat, reward the participants with Papier-Mâché Egg or Jelly Bean Carrot favors. If a wind down activity is needed, ask an older child to read an Easter story to the younger children. Three to try are: Pooh's Easter Egg Hunt, The Easter Story, or Rechenka's Eggs.