By Stephen Smoot
“It takes about an hour to put them down and maybe about five minutes for the kids to pick up all the eggs.”
That’s how Chris Roberson of the Franklin Moose Lodge described the morning of preparation and the frenzy of egg searching that took place Saturday morning at Franklin Town Park.
Perhaps about 100 children, accompanies by parents, grandparents, and other caregivers, tromped around designated areas of the park. Many climbed into the playground equipment to search, while others looked in the grass and around trees and fenceposts.
Conditions could not have been more pleasant. A brilliant sun in a beautiful blue sky brought just enough warmth to make it comfortable to search. Egg hunters looked to put colored plastic eggs in their beautifully colored baskets. Every egg offered a prize inside. Most had candy or cash hidden inside while 50 lucky eggs contained gold dollar coins.
One tall dad sporting a thick beard proudly wore tall blue floppy bunny ears as he helped his children navigate the hunt.
Roberson explained that “we break it up into different age groups so the little ones don’t get trampled.”
Alongside searching for colored eggs and finding Easter joy, children also enjoyed a special visit from the Easter Bunny himself. They took pictures and showed him their prizes. Roberson explained that he knew the Easter Bunny quite well and said that he enjoys greeting the children every year.
After the hunt, the children gathered together in small groups with each other or adults to look at the prizes they won. As they left, they could carry with them a carton of white or chocolate milk donated by Pendleton Senior and Family Services.
The annual egg hunt, which has continued for a generation, serves as one of the Moose’s biggest events. Roberson explained that “all money generated at the lodge goes back to the community” and supports events year round, including Halloween and Christmas activities for families.
“It’s great to see the kids come out,” Roberson explained, adding that he enjoyed seeing people who participated in the hunt as children returning to bring their own kids. Additionally, some who come in from out of town for Easter weekend gather together to socialize and reminisce while watching the kids have fun.
