A number of churches through the area held Easter Egg Hunt events on Saturday ahead of the big hunts in Salem and Wamac on Sunday.
This was the first year for an event at the Redemption Church on North Hotze Road that included much more than just a hunt for eggs. Kid’s leader Gayla Ball says they hope to make it an annual event.
Ball says, “We have a huge outdoor egg hunt today with 3 different age levels. We have pony rides, we have a huge blow-up bounce house, we have face painting, some outside activities, and we have some awesome grand prizes. inside we’re doing an interactive Easter story as well.”
Ball says over 1,700 eggs were placed out for the Easter Egg hunts.
The First Christian Church in Salem had 10,000 eggs hidden for their egg hunt conducted inside the church in three locations. Jesse Brinkley says they have been holding the event the last ten years, with this being the third year with 10,000 eggs.
Brinkley says, “Our whole congregation came together to fill the eggs with candy. It took a lot of people to help out with that. I had about a dozen volunteers who helped me put down eggs, welcome people, and station them throughout the building; it’s a team effort.”
Similar hunts were held by other churches.
Looking for the prize eggs at the conclusion of the Egg hunts at the First Christian Church in Salem on Saturday. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
There are two large Easter Egg Hunts on Sunday for the kids. The Centralia area hunt will be held at the Wamac Park for those a half year old to 12 years old. The park will open at noon for registration, with the hunt in three age groups to follow at one. The Salem Lions Club will hold its 88th Easter Egg Hunt at two Sunday afternoon near the Band Stage at Bryan Memorial Park for kids two to ten years of age. You are asked not to arrive before 1:30. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos beginning at 1:30 until just before the hunt begins. Both events feature large numbers of special prizes.
Actors in the Easter Resurrection at the Redemption Church in Salem before Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
