Easter Bunny Photo Experience Returns to Katy Mills for Spring 2026 Family Traditions
For many families in Katy and West Houston, the arrival of spring brings more than warmer weather and blooming flowers — it signals the return of one of the season’s most cherished traditions: photos with the Easter Bunny.
Beginning March 10, the Bunny Photo Experience at Katy Mills, located at 5000 Katy Mills Circle in Katy, invites families to capture festive springtime memories with the iconic Easter character. Running through April 5, the seasonal event offers photo sessions, themed activities for children, and special event times designed to make the experience welcoming for every family.
For parents and grandparents, these photo visits often become a tradition that grows with their children — one that reflects how community gathering spaces like shopping malls continue to shape holiday memories across generations.
A Springtime Tradition for Families
The Katy Mills Bunny Photo Experience takes place in Neighborhood 6 near American Eagle, making it easy for visitors to stop by while enjoying the shopping center.
Walk-ups are welcome daily until closing time, though reservations are encouraged to help families avoid wait times. During each scheduled 15-minute window, multiple families may participate in the session.
The experience also highlights milestone moments for younger visitors, particularly those celebrating their first Easter, offering parents the opportunity to document the occasion with professional photos.
The Bunny Photo Experience begins March 10 with hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., followed by extended weekend hours that include 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. sessions on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Mid-March weekday hours transition to 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., before expanding again later in the season. The final weekend of the experience includes extended hours through 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, with a closing day schedule of 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Easter Sunday weekend, April 5.
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Special Pet Photos and a Sensory-Friendly Bunny Experience
In addition to traditional family photos, Katy Mills offers special themed opportunities designed to include even more members of the family.
On March 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., families are invited to participate in Pet Photos with the Easter Bunny, allowing furry companions to join the seasonal portrait.
The mall will also host Caring Bunny, a sensory-friendly photo event designed for children with special needs and sensory sensitivities. Scheduled for March 22 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the event provides a quieter, more comfortable environment with adjusted lighting, reduced noise, and additional support to help families enjoy the experience.
These specialized sessions reflect a growing effort by community venues to make holiday traditions accessible and welcoming for all families.
How the Easter Bunny Became a Cultural Icon
The Easter Bunny tradition has roots dating back centuries. Historians widely trace the character to German folklore, specifically the legend of the “Osterhase,” a rabbit said to lay colorful eggs for well-behaved children. German immigrants brought the tradition to the United States in the 1700s, particularly to Pennsylvania, where Easter egg baskets and rabbit imagery became part of early American celebrations.
Over time, the Easter Bunny evolved into one of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday. According to the National Retail Federation, Easter consistently ranks among the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States, with millions of families participating in egg hunts, gift-giving, and seasonal traditions centered around the Easter Bunny.
How Mall Bunny Photos Became a Holiday Staple
Holiday photo experiences at shopping malls gained popularity during the mid-20th century as retail centers began creating seasonal attractions designed to bring families together.
The tradition of photographing children with holiday characters — most famously Santa Claus — expanded in the 1960s and 1970s to include the Easter Bunny. The concept allowed families to capture professionally staged holiday portraits while visiting local shopping destinations.
Today, mall photo experiences remain a familiar seasonal activity across the country, combining photography, entertainment, and family traditions in a single visit.
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Behind the Bunny Photo Experience
The Katy Mills photo experience is operated by Cherry Hill Programs, a company that has specialized in mall-based experiential photography since 1960.
Cherry Hill Programs now manages seasonal photo operations at hundreds of retail and tourism venues across the United States and Canada, employing thousands of staff members and utilizing proprietary reservation systems, digital photography platforms, and online photo delivery portals.
The company’s mission centers on creating memorable family experiences through holiday-themed photography, whether during Easter, Christmas, or other seasonal events.
Planning Your Visit
Families interested in securing a preferred time slot can make reservations online through the official Bunny photo reservation system here.
Benefits of reserving in advance include the ability to reschedule up to 48 hours before the visit, streamlined checkout during the event, and promotional gifts from participating partners including Yankee Candle and Crayola’s Scribble Scrubbie Pets creative app trial.
With multiple weeks of availability leading up to Easter, the event offers flexibility for families looking to build a new tradition — or continue one that has been part of springtime for generations.
As Easter approaches, the Bunny Photo Experience at Katy Mills offers a familiar reminder that sometimes the simplest traditions — a smile, a snapshot, and a seasonal visit — become the memories families cherish most.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more local family events, seasonal activities, and community happenings across Katy and West Houston.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.