Local families with special needs children can visit the Caring Bunny – a unique event in a subdued environment – at Tacoma Mall on Sunday, March 26; plus Pet Photos on Sunday, April 9

Tacoma, WA– Tacoma Mall is hosting Easter celebration festivities, offering families the chance to participate in traditional and unique seasonal events.

The Bunny Photo Experience will be open Friday, March 24 through Saturday, April 15, at Tacoma Mall. Kids have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. You can save time and avoid the line with Bunny by Appointment: reserve your magical moment with Bunny online at http://simon.noerrbunny.com.

The full schedule for Bunny Photos at Tacoma Mall is available at: http://www.simon.com/mall/tacoma-mall/stream/easter-bunny-photos-4915418 :

-Tacoma Mall’s Caring Bunny™ on Sunday, March 26, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. will offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny, the largest program of its kind, has been developed by Simon and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 90 Simon® properties will host the Caring Bunny this season. Autism Speaks provided promotional assistance. Many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for children’s cherished visit with the Bunny.

The subdued environment is likely to include:

*Turning off in-mall music and dimming the lights for the duration of the event.
*Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system.
*Special activities during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

-Tacoma Mall’s Easter Celebration is on April 8 from 11 to 1 p.m. Celebrate Spring by making a fun craft and having your picture taken with the Easter Bunny. The first 100 Kidgit members will receive an egg-citing gift and Kidgits members can make a fun Easter craft and a sweet treat. Visit Simon Guest Services or simon.com/kidgits to sign up for free.

-Pet Photos at Tacoma Mall is Sunday, April 9 from 7 to 8 p.m. for furry family members to capture photos with the Easter Bunny.

The sponsors for the 2017 Bunny Photo Experience are The Gymboree Corporation – including its Gymboree and Crazy 8 children’s clothing brands and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, which is celebrating the highly-anticipated release of “Sing,” available on Digital HD March 3rd and on Blu-ray DVD March 21st. Come visit the Simon Easter Photo Experience and receive a fun-filled activity sheet, a custom Sing holiday headband, and watch highlights from the movie.

About Tacoma Mall
Among the 150 stores and restaurants at Tacoma Mall, this indoor mall features Nordstrom, H&M, Apple, Express and Build-A-Bear. Tacoma Mall serves the nearby communities of University Place, Gig Harbor, Lakewood, Puyallup, Joint Base Lewis- McChord and Tacoma. Tacoma Mall has exciting dining options from sit down places such as The Cheesecake Factory, BJ’s Brewhouse to grab and go options such as Chipotle Mexican grill. With over 150 stores ranging from women’s apparel, children’s fashion and home electronics, Tacoma Mall is the premier shopping destination in Pierce County. Tacoma Mall is conveniently located parallel to I-5 on the west side between 38th Street and 56th Street exits in Tacoma. For more information, visit http://www.simon.com/mall/tacoma-mall

About AbilityPath.org
AbilityPath.org is an online hub and special needs community for parents and professionals to learn, connect and live a more balanced life. The website combines social networking features with expert content from AbilityPath.org’s team of educators, parents, therapists and medical professionals. AnbilityPath.org was created by Community Gatepath, a nonprofit with over 90 years of experience serving families and children with special needs by fostering hope, dignity and independence. AbilityPath.org may also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism, founded Autism Speaks in 2005. Mr. Wright is the former vice chairman of General Electric and chief executive officer of NBC and NBC Universal. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $500 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. Each year Walk Now for Autism Speaks events are held in more than 100 cities across North America. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 40 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.

About Gymboree:
Gymboree has a 30-year rich heritage in dressing children, newborn to 12 years old. Gymboree offers colorful, head-to-toe clothing and accessory collections – quality clothes that let kids be kids. Gymboree is part of The Gymboree Corporation family, which began in 1976 with Gymboree Play & Music, offering parent-child play programs. You can find them at the Tacoma Mall, across from Zumiez.

About Universal Pictures Home Entertainment:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
– Simon Property Group