Local Easter egg hunts were all they were cracked up to be last weekend as perfect spring weather, troves of candy, an array of gift prizes, pizza slices, desserts and upbeat music led to festive times for children and generations of adults alike.
Pioneer Park in La Conner and the large grassy area next to Swinomish Senior Center were clearly favorite stops for the Easter Bunny, who early on Saturday hid a bevy of prized eggs to be found at both locales.
The fun started at 10 a.m. at the park, then shifted to Swinomish for a noon gathering.
As it has for decades, La Conner Hook & Ladder coordinated the annual Pioneer Park event, which featured egg hunts for various age groups plus always popular candy and coin tosses in hay piles laid out on the park grounds.
After filling their Easter baskets, the young egg hunters received candy rewards for their efforts. More candy awaited them buried deep in the first of the two hay piles. The mad scramble there kicked up clouds of dust which, of course, was no deterrent to the kids.
La Conner Fire Chief Aaron Reinstra was thankful for the support of more than two dozen volunteers who helped make the day special for local youth. He was grateful as well for Saturday’s forecast.
“It was a good time and a great turnout,” said Reinstra, who was working his 35th straight egg hunt.
As for the splendid weather, which followed weeks of gray March drizzle, retired La Conner firefighter David Alvord, now 90 years young, wasn’t surprised.
“It’s a tradition that the sun comes out for the Easter Egg Hunt,” Alvord said.
Another tradition is that kids leave the park with money in their pockets. Firefighters placed $400 in nickels, dimes, quarters and half-dollars in a hay pile near the Louisa Ann Conner monument, then invited egg hunters to turn their attention to finding cash.
Nine-year-old Miles Whitton undertook the mission with zeal. In hardly any time at all he returned from the hay to hand his grandma, Tommie Yturralde, a handful of change. She barely had time to congratulate him on his success before Miles was off to the money pile again.
“I’ve got to go dive back in,” he explained to grandma.
Reinstra said one child, who will remain forever anonymous, was hoping for an even bigger payday.
“He came over to us,” Reinstra chuckled, “and said, ‘I thought you’d have money here, but you only have change.’ We thought that was kind of funny.”
Egg hunt volunteer Tami Mason was struck by the event’s wide appeal, noting that it drew newborns as well as seniors on walkers.
“There was quite a wide range of ages,” Mason said. “And I think there were more people here this year than last year.”
Reinstra said La Conner Hook & Ladder earmarks $1,000 to the egg hunt, using funds generated by the department’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Dance.
By all accounts, it’s money well spent. La Conner Elementary School student Lily Rose Stewart proclaimed it “the best egg hunt ever.”
Within a couple hours, though, she had a co-favorite egg hunt. Lily Rose was among the children who emptied their egg baskets and hopped from Pioneer Park over to Swinomish for the egg hunt there.
Egg-stravaganza at Swinomish
The large turnout at Swinomish again reflected an Easter celebration for all ages. There was even an egg hunt division for tribal elders, with Swinomish Senator Barb James, who had donned bunny ears for the occasion, among those joining in.
Meanwhile, Breanna Nguyen was strolling 6-month-old Theodore Shea through his first-ever egg hunt. Theodore awakened from his afternoon nap in time to share a photo with 4-year-old Imani Espinoza and the Easter Bunny.
The Easter Bunny was so enamored with the Swinomish Egg Hunt that she stayed on after hiding her eggs to monitor the hunting and dance to music played by a professional DJ. The family atmosphere was further enhanced after pizza and snacks were served in the senior center as everyone then returned outside to picnic in the warm sunshine.
Across a walkway from the senior center, kids lined up to claim prizes from a roomful of age-appropriate gift items. The Swinomish Dental Clinic added a special egg hunt twist by hiding painted rocks that could be exchanged for prizes.
The egg-citement was readily apparent.
The universal laughter and smiles at Pioneer Park and Swinomish Senior Center on Saturday reminded all ages that Easter here remains a time for egg-streme happiness.
Kari Mar is the editor and publisher of La Conner Community News.
