Who needs the egg? While still hunting eggs on Creslane’s western field during the 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt, a boy takes the treat out of a plastic egg before placing it in his basket, minus the egg. Gini Davis/The Creswell Chronicle
The community’s younger set was kept ”hopping” Saturday with several local Easter-themed events.
An estimated 700 to 800 people kicked off the morning with the 14th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Creslane Elementary School, sponsored by Hillside Church. From there, families could migrate to HealthMart Pharmacy to have their children’s picture taken with the Easter Bunny. A lunch of grilled hotdogs, cookie-decorating, games and another Easter egg hunt at Creswell Church of the Nazarene capped the morning’s events.
On Creslane’s west field, egg hunts organized by age and grade level began about 10 a.m. Kids could meet the Easter Bunny while waiting for their hunts, and balloon animals plus an inflatable safari-themed obstacle course and giant slide kept them entertained.
”The Easter Bunny was a hit this year,” said Hillside Church Pastor Brent Murphy, adding that 12,000 candy- and prize-filled plastic eggs were bagged by this year’s ”hunters.”
Prize drawings after the hunts included Oregon Zoo, Willamalane, Wildlife Safari and two Figaro’s Pizza and Elite Game Spot family gift baskets.
Event sponsors included Elite Game Spot, Figaro’s, Willamalane, Defy Eugene, Wildlife Safari, Farmlands Market, New Hope Christian College, Creswell 76 Station, Banner Bank, Ryan Sharkey Construction LLC, Point S Creswell Tire & Automotive, Bi-Mart and Freshwater Furniture Restoration.
”We couldn’t do this year after year without our amazing volunteers and community sponsors,” Murphy said.
Starting at 10:30, the Easter Bunny welcomed youngsters at HealthMart Pharmacy. After posing for pictures, kids delved into Easter baskets for pieces of candy and small toys, and coloring pages were also available. Outside, a Sweet Bay Shave Ice stand offered chilly sweet treats in 23 flavors.
Visits from the Easter Bunny’s young fans were ”steady all morning,” said Director of Operations Ashley Burr.
Doors opened at 11 a.m. for the Church of the Nazarene’s third annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Pastor Ben Umbel manned the hotdog grill outside while indoor rooms enticed youngsters with a variety of games and activities. Kids could frost an Easter-themed sugar cookie, ”ride” stick horses cleverly fashioned from pool noodles, explore glow-in-the-dark games in a blacklight room and more.
”There are a lot of different games this year,” Umbel said, adding of his volunteers, ”They did a great job.”
Pastel-colored eggs beckoned from the gentle slope behind the church, and at about 12:15 the community’s second organized hunt for candy-filled eggs commenced.
On Easter Sunday, a SONrise Service was held at 7 a.m. in Holt Park. A cooperative venture between Creswell Church of Christ and Creswell Presbyterian Church, the service was officiated by Creswell Church of Christ Pastor Doug Allison and Creswell Presbyterian Church Pastor Seth Wheeler. All were welcome to join in marking the transition from the fun-filled Saturday to the deeper ”reason for the season” for the Christian faithful.
