Hoppy hunting

Local Easter egg hunts will welcome spring, children and the Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny is going to be a very busy critter Saturday, March 30, greeting children at several area locations as they hunt for hidden eggs containing candy and prizes.

But after busily concealing thousands of eggs during the wee morning hours, the Easter Bunny won’t simply hop down the trail when he arrives in Wood Village.

“Back in the 1990s, one of our staff members wanted something with a ‘wow’ factor,” said Greg Dirks, records manager with the city of Wood Village and egg hunt coordinator. “That’s where the idea of a helicopter came from, and it just sort of caught on.”

For the past 25 years, the Easter Bunny’s high-flying arrival has been the trademark of the Wood Village affair. And to commemorate the quarter-century tradition, he has hidden 24,000 eggs with candy and another 1,000 eggs with tickets for prizes ranging from stuffed animals and sidewalk chalk to large Easter Baskets. Tots and tweens will scour the grass in age categories beginning at 10 a.m., while eggs also will be hidden in an area reserved for children with special needs.

There shouldn’t be a need for rain gear this weekend, so welcome spring by checking out the variety of Easter egg hunts around town.

Covenant Presbyterian Church — 10 a.m. at the church, 18630 S.E. Division St., Gresham. Open to children through age 12.

Gresham Elks Club — 10 a.m. at the lodge, 3330 N.E. Division St. Open to all ages.

25th annual Wood Village Easter Egg Hunt — Donald L. Robertson City Park, 24300 N.E. Halsey St. The Easter Bunny will arrive by helicopter at 9:30 a.m. Egg hunts begin at 10 a.m., with categories for children ages 3-4, 5-6 and 7-9. There will also be a hunting area for children with special needs between the ages of 3 and 9. In honor of the event’s 25th anniversary, the Easter Bunny will hide 24,000 eggs filled with candy and 1,000 eggs with special prize tickets. Organizers recommend carpooling or using public transportation because of limited parking.

River of Life Church and Little Fishes Preschool, 4 p.m. Columbia Park, 1900 S.W. Cherry Park Road, Troutdale. Children through age 12 are invited to hunt for more than 10,000 eggs filled with candy and enter drawings for prizes.

Blue Lake Bunny Bonanza Egg Hunt — 10 a.m. to noon, Blue Lake Regional Park, 20500 N.E. Marine Drive, Fairview. Children up to age 4 begin their search at 10:30 a.m., followed by children ages 5-10 at 10:45 a.m. There will also be face painting and coloring activities in the park’s covered shelters. The event is sponsored by Metro Regional Services. Park entry fee is $5 per car or $7 per bus.

Firefighters Easter Egg Hunt — 9 a.m., West Gresham Grade School, 330 W. Powell Blvd. The Easter Bunny will lead children through age 12 to age appropriate hunting fields, to search for nearly 10,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes. Event is co-sponsored by Gresham Firefighters Local 1062 and Small World Learning Center.