Finding fun at the Easter Egg Hunt

Kids of all ages enjoyed finding eggs, taking an up-close look at first responders’ vehicles and even got their photos taken with the Easter Bunny on Saturday during the city’s Jerry & Joy Clinger Easter Egg Hunt at Mount Vernon’s Hiawatha Park.

Mount Vernon Recreation Director Jeff Derr said that approximately 4,800 eggs were hidden equally on the ball fields and lawns at Hiawatha Park for the event. Children were divided into age groups – 0-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-11 – with each group having its own pile of eggs to discover.

The event kicked off with a “Touch A Truck” event held by the Mount Vernon Police and Fire departments. Children and adults could climb inside the MVPD vehicles, as well as a fire truck. Police officers and firefighters were on hand to explain what was inside the vehicles and also help the smaller children get in and out of them.

After touring the trucks, the Easter bunny was there, greeting everyone with their bubbly personality and posing for photos with youngsters and their families.

Then came the big moment, when laughter and chaos erupted on the fields, with the egg hunt. This year, Derr said, they went to a staggered time frame for the egg hunt, starting with the younger ones and working their way up to the oldest.

That, not only made for a smoother event, it allowed for parents with children in different age groups to watch, or even help, all of their children.

The eggs were filled with candy and tickets for some special prizes donated by businesses and organizations, just for the event.