Inclusive Easter egg hunt set for Holmes County

There is something magical about the moment children are released to hunt for Easter eggs. With baskets swinging and excitement bubbling over, they scatter in search of colorful eggs hiding all kinds of wonderful treats inside.

But the thrill isn’t just in the candy inside, but in the chase itself, the quick footsteps, the delighted shouts of “I found one!” and the sheer thrill of gathering up eggs that makes the hunt so special.

Several area agencies have united to create this special opportunity for kids, and what makes it even better is the event is being designed with kids with special needs in mind.

Bunny Brunch will take place from 9 a.m. to noon March 21 at the Holmes County Fairgrounds, where Cardinal Therapy Group, Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Holmes County 4-H/OSU Extension have pooled their resources to create a special day created for all kids.

The free Easter egg hunt will even include sensory-friendly and wheelchair-accessible hunting areas.

“We’re very excited and believe we have some awesome agencies and a great day planned for the entire community,” said Angie Willard of Cardinal Therapy Group. “We’re anticipating a big turnout that brings our community together.”

Willard and Sharon Allison from HCBDD talked last year about developing a community event designed around individuals with special needs and the entire community.

They zeroed in on an Easter egg hunt, and things came together as Holmes County 4-H and OSU Extension came on board.

“We were definitely looking for something with inclusion for everyone,” Willard said. “That was a big part of why we wanted to invest in creating what we think is going to be a thrilling and enjoyable day.”

The community-wide event is designed to create plenty of enjoyment for the entire family. There will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids that will begin promptly at 11:15 a.m. It welcomes youth up to the sixth grade.

“That’s going to be exciting,” Willard said of the egg hunt. “Holmes Wayne Electric Cooperative will have their bucket truck there and will drop the eggs from up high. In addition, we will have a separate section for children with disabilities.”

Willard said that section will include eggs that light up and make noise for kids with vision and hearing impairments, along with eggs attached to helium balloons designed for kids in wheelchairs to pick up.

The group is asking for donations of eggs and candy for the event, and anyone with a desire to help the cause may do so by dropping off their eggs or candy at the fairgrounds office by March 16.

“The 4-H kids will fill the eggs with candy the week prior to the event,” Willard said. “We just need a whole lot of eggs and candy.”

They are also accepting monetary donations to help cover expenses, and those can be dropped off at the fairgrounds or at HCBDD.

Brunch hosted by Exclusively Yours will be available for purchase from 8-11 a.m., with prices set at $12 for adults, $5 for children aged 4-10 and free for 3-and-under.

There will be plenty of other activities to enjoy throughout the morning. Youngsters can visit the Easter Bunny, enjoy science experiments, participate in giveaways and more.

In addition, the Holmes County Fair BeYou Livestock Show will have a petting zoo available for the kids. The Holmes County 4-H Rabbit Committee will also have rabbits on hand.

While the Bunny Brunch activities might end at noon, families will want to stick around and enjoy the indoor carnival rides, courtesy of Kissel Amusement.

Parents and adults can stop by and chat with professionals with the crew at the Early Childhood Community Partner Fair.

“We’ve asked different agencies that are mainly connected to kids in our area to set up a table and provide kids’ activities and giveaways,” Willard said. “One of the things we want to do is create an avenue for discussion and interaction between the community and our vendor organizations, and the goal is to make that interaction fun for the kids.”