In an annual rite of spring, free community Easter egg hunts will be held this weekend for North Olympic Peninsula children.
Egg hunts are on both Saturday and Easter Sunday.
All organizers said the hunts will be held rain or shine.
Biggest hunt
The North Olympic Peninsula’s biggest egg hunt is the 36th annual KONP Easter egg hunt, with registration check-in at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Pumpkin Patch, 260045 U.S. Highway 101, between Port Angeles and Sequim.
The hunt is so big — with nearly 4,000 candy-stuffed plastic eggs for 300-500 children — that the event requires pre-registration, said Jody Copeland, an egg-hunt organizer from KONP.
Pre-registration forms are available at businesses in Port Angeles and Sequim.
Forms are available in Port Angeles at Beauty and the Beach, Coco’s Market, Strait-View Credit Union, Necessities and Temptations, Browns Outdoor, Common Grounds Cafe, Quality Tinting, Klahane Gymnastics, Sound Bikes and Kayaks, PA Baby Store, Gift Emporium, Jim’s Pharmacy, Fairmount Grocery and Domino’s Pizza.
In Sequim, forms are available at the Olympic Game Farm, Dungeness Kids Co., Plaza Jewelers and Karol’s New to You.
The event will have areas roped off for three age groups: 0-2, 3-5 and 6-8.
Parents must be present at the hunt but are not allowed on the egg hunt fields for the 3-5 and 6-8 age groups, Copeland said.
“Parents must remain behind the line. It’s just for the kids,” she said.
Oldest hunt on Sunday
Port Townsend Elks Lodge’s 84th annual Easter egg hunt is the oldest continuous egg hunt on the Olympic Peninsula and one of the oldest in the state, said Sandy Ellis, event coordinator for Port Townsend Elks.
It will be held at 8 a.m. Sunday at Chetzemoka Park on Jackson Street at Blaine Street.
More than 2,000 eggs will be hidden for children 12 and younger.
Children will be divided into three age groups.
Those who find silver and gold eggs will receive silver and golden dollar coins, Ellis said.
A few dozen dedicated volunteers have been busy stuffing eggs with candy and have prepared baskets with stuffed animals and candy, she said.
Preparation will begin at 4:30 a.m. as volunteers hide the eggs with the help of Boy Scouts.
For more information, phone the Elks Lodge at 360-385-0317.
Forks community hunt
The 34th annual community Easter egg hunt at Tillicum Park’s baseball fields in Forks will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Each of the fenced ballfields is designated for an age group: 3 and younger, 4-8 and 9-12, said Robin Schostak, co-chair of the Forks Elks Lodge egg hunt committee.
Parents in the 3-and-younger age group may accompany their children, but parents must remain behind the fence for the older age groups.
The hunt includes 1,500 real dyed eggs and about 350 plastic eggs containing candy, money or a gift certificate, Schostak said.
“It usually takes only three minutes to have all of the eggs picked up,” she said.
Prizes include two bikes, one for a boy, one for a girl; 12 big chocolate bunnies; and 12 stuffed rabbits and chicks.
The event was started by Schostak’s brother, Bruce Guckenberg, who has retired from the hunt and turned it over to the Elks.
At one time, family members dyed all of the eggs in their kitchens, but it was a slow process, Schostak said.
Now, the egg dying is done by teams. Residents of the Forks Long Term Care Facility cook and dye 10 dozen eggs, while eight Elks members prepare the remainder of the eggs, she said.
All of the eggs have been donated by Forks Outfitters.
The Easter Bunny will be at the egg hunt for pictures and visits with the children.
Joyce hunt moves
The 13th annual Kitchens family Easter egg hunt at Crescent School, 50350 state Highway 112, at 10 a.m. Saturday is in an all-new location.
The community egg hunt has been held at the Tongue Point County Park for the past 10 years but has moved to Crescent School this year, said organizer Carol Kitchens.
The small but growing egg hunt hosts more than 200 children each year, she said.
Fields where the hunts will be held are wet and the grass is high, so rain boots may be needed, and the search for the 2,000 plastic and 450 colored eggs may be a bit more challenging, she said.
She said some plastic eggs are filled with colored paper that corresponds to prize baskets with “goodies,” and others are stuffed with candy.
The field is divided into three age-group areas: 3 and younger, 4-6 and 7-10.
Parents can be in the field to take photographs but are asked to avoid helping the kids gather eggs, Kitchens said.
The Easter Bunny will be on hand for photos and fun, she said.
For more information, email Kitchens at candk@centurylink.net.
Hungry Bear egg hunt
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bunny meet and greet at the Hungry Bear Cafe, Milepost 205860 U.S. Highway 101 in Beaver, at 1 p.m. Saturday.
There are divisions for ages toddler to 3, 4-7 and 8-12.
There will be raffles and more than 400 eggs to hunt.
Clallam Bay-Sekiu
The Clallam Bay-Sekiu community will hold an egg hunt at 11 a.m. Saturday at Clallam Bay School, 16933 state Highway 112.
Admission is free.
Children and their families are urged to arrive slightly early, as the hunt is a fast one.
Other Saturday hunts
Port Angeles
■ Hillcrest Baptist Church, 205 Black Diamond Road.
A free Easter egg hunt is set from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.
Children from 1 to 8 will participate in the hunt while looking for “special eggs.” Prize bags will be awarded to those who find the eggs.
Groups will be divided into ages 1-4 and ages 5-8.
For more information, phone 406-422-8035 or email lindapjordan@me.com.
Chimacum
■ Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 45 Redeemer Way
A community Easter party and egg hunt is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
Games and face-painting will be offered.
All children must be accompanied by adults.
Other Sunday hunts
Sequim
■ First Baptist Church, 1323 Sequim-Dungeness Way.
Easter Sunday events include a free breakfast at 9:15 a.m. and an egg hunt for children at 10:15 a.m.
The egg hunt will be followed by a service at 10:45 a.m.
For information, phone the church office at 360-683-2114, visit www.fbcsequim.com or find the church on Facebook.
Port Townsend
■ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St.
A free Easter egg hunt at 11:30 a.m. will follow a Festival of Easter, a service of music, celebration and Holy Communion, at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday.
■ Unity Spiritual Enrichment Center, 3918 San Juan Ave.
A reception and Easter egg hunt is planned after a service at 11 a.m.
No hunts this year
In Port Townsend, unlike past years, there will be no Easter egg hunt for the American Legion Post No. 26 Ladies Auxiliary at the Fred Lewis Scout Cabin Park.
The cabin is undergoing renovations, thus making it unsafe for a hunt.
Also, last year’s Easter Egg Olympics at Hurricane Ridge Ski Area will not be repeated this year.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club said the ski area is closed for the season.
Easter brunches
■ The Forks Emblem Club No. 488 and Concerned Citizens will host an annual Easter breakfast at the Forks Elk Lodge, 941 Merchants Road, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.
The price is free for ages 4 and younger, ages 5-11 and seniors are $5, and ages 12 and older are $7.
■ A brunch celebration will be held at Park View Villas, 1430 Park View Lane in Port Angeles, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
The cost is $10 per guest.
For reservations, phone 360-452-7222 or stop by the office.
■ Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake St. in Sequim, will have a light brunch from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. and again immediately after the 10 a.m. worship service.
■ First Teacher is sponsoring a breakfast at Applebee’s, 130 River Road in Sequim, from 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday.
The Easter Bunny and the Applebee’s Bee will be available.
The cost for breakfast is $10 for parents and free for their child. One free child per parent. The cost is $5 per extra child.
Tickets are available at Dungeness Kids Co. or Windermere Real Estate. They can be reserved by phone at 360-681-2250. They can be picked up outside Applebee’s on Saturday morning.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
News Assistant Laura Lofgren can be reached at 360-417-3527.
