Parks departments sponsor Easter egg hunt

Logan Horton spent his Saturday in a bunny costume, hopping and cheering.

Horton, who works for the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, was an official Easter Bunny at the Community Egg Hunt at Henry Anderson Community Park Saturday morning.

“It’s fun to be able to interact with the kids,” he said. “I haven’t seen nobody crying yet.”

About 500 children participated in the egg hunt, during which volunteers spread 25,000 candy- and prize-filled eggs.

Saturday was Horton’s second time in a bunny costume. He once suited up for Easter celebrations at his high school.

When the horn sounded on Saturday, the park’s tranquil recreational area was transformed into a sea of children furiously scrambling to collect as many eggs as possible.

Shannon McManus, one of the children hunting for eggs, said the 8- to 10-year-old division was the most competitive.

Saturday’s entertainment was not limited to egg hunting. The Sandbox Kids, a five-piece family music band, performed at the event, and Kidzu Children’s Museum had crafts available for the kids.

“Kids just love the Sandbox band,” said Sarah Wolfe, an organizer for Saturday’s hunt who works for the Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department.

The event was co-sponsored by the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department, the town of Chapel Hill, and the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation.

Chapel Hill resident Daran Edmonds, whose two daughters participated in the egg hunt, said he was pleased with the event.

“Everyone is having a great time,” he said.

Keitha Barrett, who works for the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, has helped with the egg hunt for the last 15 years.

Barrett said this year’s hunt went off without a hitch, and it was the first without any hysterical parents.

Barrett said parents have been known to panic if they lose sight of their children during the hunt, but Saturday’s egg hunt was a relatively calm affair.

Other organizers at the hunt said they were pleased with how the day turned out.

Molly Fitzsimons, who works for the Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, said she thought this year’s event was enjoyable for everyone.

“I think it has been really successful,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.