With Connecticut's April school vacation underway and Easter rapidly approaching, Fairfield County is gearing up for a week of holiday fun. There are plenty of egg hunts, chocolate and candy-making workshops, and costumed bunnies handing out treats on area calendars. For families with children on dairy-free diets, however, many of these seemingly joyous events are filled with disappointment. Cadbury eggs, milk chocolates, pastel-colored M and Ms, and other dairy-laden candies are the order of the day, and it's not much fun for a child to watch his friends or siblings feast on sweets that he can't have. If you're a parent with a dairy-free child looking for an Easter activity that your whole family can safely enjoy, you'll love this winning combination: a matinee of the Easter blockbuster Hop, followed by a visit to Wilton's favorite candy shop, Sweet Pierre's, which has an astonishing array of dairy-free Easter treats. Park once in charming Wilton Center for a whole afternoon of holiday fun!
Make your first stop the Bowtie Wilton 4 in the rear of the shopping plaza, where Hop is showing all week. Hop, the comedic tale of a teenage Easter Bunny who is not sure he wants the job, and the evil chick out to kidnap him and take over Easter, is sure to engage and delight the whole family. You'll find your kids laughing at the antics of the wayward bunny and the unemployed college grad who befriends him, and there's just enough suspense (Will the chick succeed in becoming the Easter Chicken and overthrowing bunnies everywhere?) to keep your kids on the edges of their seats. Adults will appreciate several cameo appearances, which add a few laughs for the grown-up set--most notably, David Hasselhoff. One of the most enjoyable parts of the film is the fantastic scenery in the Easter Bunny's workshop. Fountains of chocolate, showers of brightly-colored jellybeans, and assembly lines of marshmallow chicks, chocolate bunnies, and colorful lollipops will have you craving a sweet treat when you exit. Hence, your next stop: Sweet Pierre's.
You and your children won't believe your eyes when, after the movie, you take a few steps around the corner to Sweet Pierre's, a confectionery also conveniently located in Wilton Center. Upon opening the door, you'll think you've walked right onto the set of Hop. Chocolate bunnies of all sizes, ribboned bags of jellybeans, pastel marshmallow treats, gummy candies in various shapes, handcrafted lollipops, gourmet truffles, chocolate-covered fruits and nuts, and just about every other confection your heart desires await. Though Sweet Pierre's square footage doesn't rival the Easter Bunny's factory, it's jam-packed with all of the goodies you've just seen in the movie...and the best part is, you don't have to say "No" to your dairy-free child.
While many of the items in the shop do contain dairy, variations on all of the most popular children's treats can be found dairy-free. There are several types of jellybeans to choose from and a wide array of hard and gummy candies. Chocolate is also an option, thanks to Divvies, a line of gourmet treats which are free of dairy, soy, nut, and egg ingredients. Sweet Pierre's carries an assortment of Divvies candies, including the hard-to-find chocolate bunny. "The Divvies bunnies are going fast," says Nancy Saxe, Sweet Pierre's owner. Other popular Divvies products, according to Ms. Saxe, are the chocolate-drizzled popcorn and the hand-poured chocolate bars.
Ms. Saxe has seen a steady stream of customers with allergies seeking treats to put in their children's Easter baskets. "They're so happy to see the Divvies line here," Ms. Saxe reports. Sweet Pierre's is also a great resource for families who want to create their own allergy-free confections at home. "A Brownie troop came in and bought the Divvies candy stars for decorations, because they were making cupcakes, and some of the girls have allergies," Ms. Saxe says. Sweet Pierre's is planning to expand their selection of Divvies products due to demand, so look for even more items coming in the future.
Check your calendar, pick a free afternoon, and let Wilton Center's Bowtie 4 and Sweet Pierre's help you get into the Easter spirit. The Bowtie Wilton 4 is located at 21 River Road in Wilton. For Hop showtimes and more information, you can reach them by phone at (203) 761-0767 or visit their website. Sweet Pierre's is located at 5 River Road in Wilton. You can reach them by phone at (203) 563-0000. Happy Easter!
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