One tradition that has remained firmly in place in East Jefferson County since 1930 is the Port Townsend Elks Lodge’s Easter Egg Hunt that will be in Chetzemoka Park at 8 a.m. Sunday.
“The Elks started this 80 years ago,” said LaVon Turley, lodge secretary.
“It has been here for generations of local kids. There are people who attended as children who are now grandparents and are now bringing their grandchildren.
“This is something that local kids expect,” she said.
“It will always be here.”
Turley said she expected more than 200 kids to participate in this year’s hunt.
Elks Lodge volunteers spent several days this week preparing for the event, applying colored dye onto 1,800 eggs to be hidden around the park, which is located on Jackson Street between Garfield and Roosevelt streets.
In addition to the regular eggs, children can find 12 golden eggs, each worth $2, and 12 silver eggs, each worth $1.
Bags of candy and plastic eggs with goodies inside also will be hidden.
“Everyone will come away with something,” Turley said. “No kid will go away empty-handed.”
The hunt is open to the public and is free of charge, with children up to 12 years old competing in three divisions.
Turley said that little has changed throughout the years. The latest change: In 2007, the 7 a.m. start time was pushed forward an hour.
“We did that for the parents so they could get an extra hour’s sleep,” she said.
That also benefits the Boy Scouts who hide the eggs the Sunday mornings before the hunt begins.
For more information, phone the Elks at 360-385-0317.
American Legion hunt
Later in the day will be the American Legion Marvin G Shields Post 26 Ladies Auxiliary Easter egg hunt.
That hunt will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Legion Park, off Discovery Bay Road behind the Port Townsend sign at the mill stoplight.
The hunt, which includes 80 dozen eggs, is open to children 11 and under.
There will be prizes for three age groups, and the Easter Bunny will make an appearance.
Auxiliary officer Janet Emery, organizer of the hunt, said that many children participate in both the Elks and the Legion events.
For more information, phone 360-379-4972.
Also on Sunday, an Easter egg hunt will be part of the festivities during the CommUnity Easter Service at Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park at 11 a.m.
Saturday hunt in Quilcene
The Quilcene Lion’s Club will hold its hunt on Saturday.
Eggs will be hidden, awaiting discovery, at the Quilcene Community Center Park, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
The hunt is open to children 14 years and younger, who will be divided into three groups to search for dyed eggs, plastic eggs with candy and prize eggs.
Additional prizes will be given to those who gather the most eggs.
For more information, phone 360-765-3321.
Brinnon Booster Club
The Brinnon Booster Club will hold its annual Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The hunt is open to children up to age 12, and is divided into three age groups.
There will be drawings for Easter baskets and stuffed animals.
For more information, phone 360-796-4908.
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Jefferson County reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
