Big eggs. Small eggs. Plastic eggs. “Gold” eggs. Real eggs.
It’s going be downright eggy this weekend across the North Olympic Peninsula.
To celebrate one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar, several organizations are holding Easter egg hunts from Port Townsend to LaPush and everywhere in between.
Kids usually love Easter egg hunts.
But why eggs?
It turns out that the tradition of eggs — an old symbol of fertility — predates the Christian era.
In Persia and Egypt, for example, eggs were eaten and decorated for spring holidays, according to Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
The tradition of eggs and spring indeed go back a long way.
Following are a list of Easter egg hunts carrying on the tradition in our local communities.
Port Angeles
KONP’s annual Easter egg hunt is taking place Saturday at 9 a.m. Children up to age 10 can hunt for thousands of eggs hidden at Shane Park, 613 S. A St.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., but no forms are available at the event; pick up registration forms at local businesses, including KONP studios on First Street, before Saturday.
Port Townsend
* Elks Lodge No. 317 will host the North Olympic Peninsula’s oldest continuing Easter egg hunt, starting at 7 a.m. Sunday at Chetzemoka Park, at Jackson and Blaine streets.
The egg hunt has been a community event every year since 1931.
Children 12 years of age and younger are invited to hunt for 1,440 real eggs, 16 “gold” eggs and 16 “silver” eggs. Boy Scout Troop 479 will hide eggs and assist during the hunt.
* The 20th annual American Legion Post No. 26 Ladies Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The event at American Legion Park located on Discovery Road at state Highway 20 is open for children 12 years of age and younger. About 1,080 real eggs — including prize eggs — will be awarded for various age categories.
The Easter Bunny will be there.
Sequim
* The Elks Lodge Easter Egg Hunt, complete with prize-filled eggs, will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road.
The egg hunt is for Sequim-area children 10 years of age and younger.
* Sequim’s First Baptist Church, 1323 Sequim-Dungeness Way, is hosting an Easter egg hunt Saturday at 10 a.m. on church grounds. After the egg hunt, families are welcome to a service inside the church.
Forks
The Forks annual Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tillicum Park. Thousands of eggs can be found by egg hunters. Prizes will also be available.
Joyce
The Kitchen family from Joyce is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday at 9 a.m. at Salt Creek Recreation Area, the Clallam County park located north of state Highway 112 at 3506 Camp Hayden Road.
The egg hunt takes place near the playground, baseball fields and covered shelter at the park.
Clallam Bay/Sekiu
The Community Easter Egg Hunt begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at Clallam Bay School on state Highway 112.
The event will feature a search for more than 40 dozen eggs. Candy, cash prizes and other goodies will be awarded to several different age groups.
Children 12 and younger are invited to the event.
Beaver
Hungry Bear Cafe, 205860 U.S. Highway 101, is sponsoring its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday at 1 p.m.
Egg hunters will be divided into two age groups: toddlers to 3 years old, and children 4 to 12 years of age.
Prizes will be awarded for children and adults will also have a chance to win prizes at a drawing.
Brinnon
Brinnon is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt Sunday at 1 p.m. at Dosewallips State Park, just south of town.
Children will be divided into two groups and have the opportunity to hunt for hundreds of eggs. Easter baskets, candy and stuffed bunnies will be given away during drawings.
LaPush
Quileute Ocean Park Resort (formerly LaPush Ocean Park Resort) is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday at 11 a.m.
Children 12 years and younger can participate in the event, in which prizes will be awarded. Contests will also be held and prizes will be awarded for best homemade baskets and costumes
Quilcene
The annual Quilcene Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt will start promptly at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Quilcene Community Center Park.
About 420 real eggs and 480 plastic eggs containing candy and other prizes will be hidden in the park.
Chimacum
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer is sponsoring the Chimacum egg hunt that will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at H.J. Carroll Park on Rhody Drive, off state Highway 19.
