The grassy fields of Maude Neiding Memorial Park, 960 Cleveland Ave. in Amherst, will welcome back thousands of brightly colored Easter eggs waiting to be found by eager young hunters.
The Amherst Lions and Amherst Steele Leo clubs will present the hunt April 8.
The event has been a staple of the clubs since 1996.
“Our two clubs have come together every year for this event,” said Lions Club President Lori Elswick. “We’re always excited to be able to put on this fun activity for the children of Amherst and their families.”
Members of the Steele Leo Club will take on the task of stuffing candy treats into 10,000 plastic eggs before taking the time to hide them across the grounds of the park.
“Many of the Leos remember participating in the hunt when they were young,” said Lindsey Heyd, president of the Leo Club. “Now we get to give back to the community and help to continue this holiday tradition.”
The morning fun begins at 10:30 a.m. with the arrival of the Easter Bunny, thanks to the Amherst Fire Department.
The Easter Bunny will be available to greet the young hunters as well as take pictures before and after the hunt.
The hunt begins promptly at 11 a.m. at the blast of the fire engine horn, so parents are advised to arrive early, organizers said.
“Parking is limited at the park, so be prepared to park on the nearby streets and take a short walk,” Elswick said. “We don’t want anyone missing the start.”
Three separate hunt areas will be marked according to age levels: toddlers to age 3; 4- to 6-year-olds; and 7- to 10-year-olds.
In addition to the candy, there will be specially marked eggs that can be redeemed for prizes.
Parents are requested to not enter the designated hunt areas when the hunt begins, especially for the youngest group.
“We want the young children to enjoy the experience at their own pace and would like to avoid spoiling the fun or accidentally knocking down the young egg hunters,” Elswick said. “We’ll let them know a few minutes into the hunt when they can join their children.”
For those too young to walk on their own, Elswick suggests they visit with the Easter Bunny who will have plenty of eggs to hand out.
Parents of special-needs children are advised to ask a Lion or Leo Club member for assistance.
Portable toilets will be set up in the park through a collaboration with P&J Sanitation.
This is a free, public event, but donations to support the Amherst Lions vision care and other community projects are welcomed, organizers said.
The Amherst Lions will collect unwanted, used eye-glasses to be recycled and distributed to those in need in developing countries.
Collection boxes will be set up for contributions.
