PORT TOWNSEND — Laughing children will seek treasure in Easter egg hunts throughout the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend.
The longest-running hunt on the Peninsula will be on Sunday, when children scatter throughout Chetzemoka Park in search of about 120 dozen eggs in a hunt organized by Elks Lodge 317 in Port Townsend.
The gates at the park at 900 Jackson St. in Port Townsend will open at 8 a.m. for children to begin their hunt, said Lavon Turely, secretary for the Elks Lodge.
“But, we, of course, will be there much earlier,” she added.
The eggs — which will include gold and silver “money eggs” — will be hidden by Boys Scouts from Troop 479.
Children will be divided into three age groups to search for $2 gold eggs and $1 silver eggs.
“There will be money and treats and all sorts of things for the kids,” Turely said.
The event has been going on for about 77 years, she added.
Volunteers have worked this week to put together more than 100 prize baskets and to paint the 1,440 eggs for the hunt, she said.
“We couldn’t do this without those volunteers,” she said.
“There will be all sorts of fun prizes, besides the money eggs, of course.”
Also in PT
A Sunday afternoon Easter egg hunt is set in American Legion Park.
The hunt, organized by the Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post 26 in Port Townsend, will begin at 1 p.m. at the park on Discovery Road, which is just off Mill Road.
Children in three age groups will hunt for 90 dozen eggs, cooked and colored by Janet Emery of Kinetic Koffee and Louie and Selena Espinoza of Louie’s World Entertainment.
Children will be divided into several age groups. Prizes will be awarded.
Quilcene
The Quilcene Lions Club plans an egg hunt at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the park at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101.
“We will have more than 400 eggs — 20 dozen hard-boiled, colored eggs, plus plastic eggs” with candy or prizes inside, said Ed Klein of the Quilcene Lions Club.
Children will be divided into three groups — toddlers to pre-school, kindergarten to 8 years old and 9 to 12 years old — to hunt age-specific areas.
Prizes will be awarded in each group.
Port Angeles
Several activities are scheduled in Port Angeles.
• KONP-AM 1450 radio will hold its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday.
The egg hunt will begin at 9 a.m. at Shane Park, 613 S. G St. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The hunt is open to children 9 years old and younger. Egg hunting will take place in age-appropriate areas.
An Easter bunny will visit the event. Prizes will be awarded.
Children should bring their own baskets and be accompanied by adults.
Registration forms are available at several businesses in Sequim and Port Angeles.
For more information, phone 360-457-1450.
• The Fairview Bible Church plans an egg hunt for children up to age 12 on Saturday.
The hunt will be at 10 a.m. at the church at 385 O’Brien Road, Port Angeles.
Children are asked to bring their own baskets.
• An Easter bunny will visit downtown Port Angeles to distribute candy to children between noon and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Face-painting and photographs with the Easter Bunny will be offered at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain, and children can make Easter baskets at the Kids Closet, 112 S. Lincoln St., Suite B, and decorate Easter eggs at White Crane Martial Arts Studio, 129 W. First St.
Complimentary carrot cake will be served in the lounge at Rick’s Place, 102 W. Front St., and Matay Lunch & Latte, 113 W. First St.
At 2 p.m., the Easter Bunny will lead a community bunny hop at the fountain.
Adults and children can participate in two scavenger hunts throughout the day — one for children 12 and younger and one for children 13 and older and adults.
The children’s scavenger hunt will include visits to 10 business.
The adult scavenger hunt will include 20 businesses.
People who complete the scavenger hunt will be entered in a drawing to win $10 in Downtown Dollars or a goodie bag from What’s In Store.
Scavenger hunt forms will be available at the fountain.
Extra forms can be obtained at participating downtown businesses.
The Port Angeles Downtown Association is sponsoring the bunny’s visit.
For more information, phone 360-457-9614, or click on www.portangelesdowntown.com.
• The fourth annual Easter Block Party will be held at First United Methodist Church, 110 E. Seventh St., from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Children will have the opportunity to participate in crafts, including egg coloring, cookie decorating and flower arranging.
There also will be a cake walk and “bounce room.”
Four Easter egg hunts for children 11 and younger will take place at 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
There is no cost to attend, but donations will be accepted.
Sequim
An egg hunt for children 2 to 10 years old is planned at the Sequim Elks Lodge on Saturday.
It will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 143 Port Williams Road.
Children must be accompanied by adults.
Prizes will be awarded and refreshments will be served.
For more information, phone 360-683-2763.
Joyce
JOYCE — Children 10 and younger are invited to join the Easter Bunny for the Joyce Community Easter Egg Hunt at Salt Creek Recreation Park, Tongue Point, at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Prizes will be awarded.
The annual hunt usually draws about 100 people, said Carol Kitchens, who — with other family members — organizes the event.
For more information, phone 360-928-3216.
Forks, West End
Hunts are scheduled in Forks, at the Hungry Bear Cafe and in LaPush this weekend.
• Children from all over the West End will look for some 1,600 eggs in Tillicum Park in Forks on Saturday.
The hunt will begin at 1 p.m., said Pat Soderlind, Forks event coordinator.
With the help of about a dozen other volunteers, Bruce Guckenberg — who is also a City Council member and manager of local food joint Sully’s Drive-in — boiled and dyed the eggs for the annual hunt.
The event is for children 12 and younger and includes three different age categories, Soderlind said.
Guckenberg was named Forks Citizen of the Year in 2008 for his contributions to the community — including dying the eggs.
Guckenburg has classified the effort a “family project” in which his immediate and extended family head over to Sully’s to help with the boiling and dying of the eggs.
• Children 12 and younger are invited to attend the Quileute Tribal Council Housing Authority’s egg hunt in LaPush, which will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday.
The hunt will include “lucky eggs,” which will signal to children that they have won prize baskets.
The hunt will be at the tribe’s Oceanside Resort, 330 Oceanside Drive in LaPush.
For more information, phone the housing authority at 360-374-9719.
• The Hungry Bear Cafe plans its 10th annual Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The hunt will be at the restaurant 15 miles north of Forks on U.S. Highway 101.
Golden eggs, money eggs and colored eggs will be hidden for children to find.
Children will be divided into two divisions: toddlers to 3 years old and children 4 to 12 years old.
Drawings for prizes are planned for both children and adults.
