It may be hard to believe, but Easter is just around the corner (really!). What better way to celebrate spring than with an homage to the incredible, edible egg: a tiny, minimalist package that contains amino acids, vitamins and protein. Whether you prefer cage-free, vegetarian-fed, brown, jumbo or anything in between, you can take your pick of egg celebrations this weekend.

Chicago’s Green City Market, the year-round farmer’s market dedicated to sustainable and locally-grown food, is honoring the egg this Saturday, March 27 with a market called “Green Eggs and Ham”. From 8 am to 1 pm at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the market will feature chef demonstrations, a kids’ Easter egg hunt and vendors that all promote the Seussian theme of green eggs and ham.

Green City Market’s “Green Eggs and Ham”

The chef demonstrations will take place in the south gallery of the Nature Museum, and will feature the following Chicago chefs:

9:00 am: Kristine Subido of Wave

10:00 am: Michael McDonald of one sixtyblue

11:00 am: Christophe David of NoMI

12:00 pm: Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill/Xoco/Topolobampo

Capacity for the demonstrations is limited and an RSVP is required. To reserve a space, email admin@greencitymarket.org with the demo you wish to attend and the number of guests. Check out other upcoming chef demonstrations here.

The children’s Easter egg hunt will take place in the north gallery of the Nature Museum at 9:30 a.m and is open to children ages 3 to 6. Plastic eggs will be filled with temporary tattoos and Green City Market treats. Space is limited and children must be registered by emailing their names and ages to‚  admin@greencitymarket.org. All children are asked to arrive for registration at 9:15 a.m on Saturday. After the hunt, an Easter egg workshop will take place in the North Science Lab of the museum. Children will learn how to dye eggs without chemicals, using natural dyes such as beets and spinach. No RSVP is required for the workshop.

Naturally dyed Easter eggs at Green City Market

In keeping with the spirit of Green Eggs and Ham, the market will feature vendors of micro-greens, eggs and ham and pork. Micro and petite greens will be available from vendors such as Three Sisters Garden, Heritage Prairie and Tiny Greens. A limited selection of standard greens including spinach, mesclun mix, watercress and possibly bok choy will be available from Genesis Growers. Ham and pork products will be available from Twin Oak Meats, Liberty Family Farms and Meadow Haven Farm. Mint Creek Farms will offer lamb “hams” for sale.  Eggs vendors include TJ’s Free Range Poultry, Mint Creek Farm, Ellis Farms and Meadow Haven Farms. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is located at 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Call (773) 880-1266 for more details.

Stocked up on eggs, but not sure what to do with them? Green Grocer Chicago, a West Town neighborhood market featuring organically-grown local produce will host a “Spring Cleaning” cooking demonstration on Saturday, March 27 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Host Lee Greene will focus on the egg as a symbol, a meal and a work of art, demonstrating how to clean out your fridge by cooking “Fridge Frittatas”. Sign up for the class here. Green Grocer Chicago is located at 1402 W. Grand Avenue. Call (312) 624-9508 for more information.