Petrolia and Sarnia hosting annual Easter egg hunts

Easter egg hunters are invited to bring their baskets and their smiles to free events in Sarnia and Petrolia this holiday weekend.

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“The smiles of the kids. . . that’s why we do it,” said Dianne Piggott, chairperson of Friday’s 36th Petrolia and District Lions Easter Egg Hunt at the Greenwood Pavilion next to the Petrolia arena on Huggard Street.

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The event, which goes rain or shine, typically draws about 300 kids eight and under, she said.

Registration begins at 11:30 am with the hunt at 12:30 am, with sections of the park set aside for different age groups.

The youngest group takes part in a hunt in the service club’s hall at the pavilion. “It’s fun to watch them roam around with those eggs,” Piggott said.

Plastic eggs set out for the hunt contain slips of paper indicating prizes kids can collect after the event.

There’s also a photo booth with the Easter Bunny and games for youngsters in the pavilion before the hunt. Lions members will be selling hotdogs and a drink for $2 each, “so that’s pretty good,” Piggott said.

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There’s no admission fee, but participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the local food bank, she said.

“We like the adults to come with (the children) for supervision,” Piggott said.

“It’s a fast-paced hunt,” she said. “The kids are so eager to get out there.”

Sarnia’s Easter in the Park, a decades-long tradition at Canatara Park, runs Saturday, 9 am to noon, near the Children’s Animal Farm.

“We plan for a couple thousand people,” said Rebecca Warren, the city’s community services co-ordinator.

The egg hunt will be at 10 am, with sections of the park set aside for different ages – four and six, five to seven, and eight-plus – and kids with accessibility needs, she said.

“Each child can exchange eggs for a candy, and it is peanut and gluten-free,” Warren said.

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The Easter Bunny will be there for the event and there will be Easter-themed crafts for kids to make in the park, or take home, she said.

There will also be face-painting, balloon twisting and inflatables. The animal farm will be open and the Canatara train will run, weather permitting.

But the egg hunt goes ahead rain or shine, Warren said. “We really hope it’s going to be shine.”

Juggler Circus Jonathan will perform at 9:30 and 11:30 am

Admission is free with food prepared by the Seaway Kiwanis available for purchase.

“We’re excited to see everyone out Saturday,” Warren said. “This is our first signature event for the season.”

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