This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Happy Hunting!

Bunnies, bubbles, and baskets...fun was had by all at the 14th Annual Oconee County Easter Egg Hunt!

Saturday’s cloudy weather was brightened by the smiles and laughter of hundreds of beautiful children filling the Youth Fields of for their first hosting of the 14th Annual Oconee County Easter Egg Hunt.

Originally held in downtown Watkinsville and hosted by its merchants and businesses, the hunt quickly grew too large for the area and was moved to where it was hosted by The Athens-Oconee Junior Women’s Club until last year.

β€œIn January 2011,Β  Oconee Parks and Recreation Department took the reins on this event and began working with the the Oconee Enterprise and to put the hunt on this April.” said Whitney Byce, Community Programs Coordinator of OCPRD.

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

β€œI asked Maridee Williams about the hunt and learned the history of the hunt and that she, along with the Oconee Enterprise, are the original organizers of the hunt.Β  We at OCPRD are all very proud to be able to continue this tradition in Oconee County and hope to make it a community event for years to come.”  Byce continued.

Canned goods were taken as donations at the entrance to the festivities to benefit Area Churches Together Serving (ACTS) and several generous sponsors and local businesses were involved.

Find out what's happening in Oconeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The event started at 1 p.m. with children and their parents strolling through the variety of fun-filled stations including bubble blowing, face painting, coloring Easter pictures, bean bag toss, and Karate chopping.

Lots of Easter love was shared thanks to the volunteers from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, who provided sweet, fuzzy baby chicks to be gently petted, along with the softest non-edible chocolate bunny ever, Boo!Β Β  was also on site with several of their adorable adoptee’s who relished the coo’s and petting of the children for hours on end.

The Easter Bunny himself took time out of his busy schedule to perform his most favorite of β€œofficial Easter duties,”photos with the children.Β  The line was long, the kids were --thanks to candy gifts from the vendors-- patient, the parents were thrilled, and the Easter Bunny was honored to be such an important part of the event.

Β At 2:15 p.m. however, the real excitement began.

Two fields for two different age groups opened and with help fromΒ  Oconee Enterprise's Blake Giles, OCPRD staff, and also Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis, the children were lined up and positioned to explode onto the fieldsΒ  for the gathering of hundreds of plastic Easter eggs filled with candy and prizes by volunteers.Β 

β€œLet the hunt begin!” exclaimed Davis over his mega phone.Β  And explode they did, onto the field with pure glee and joy, colorful baskets and pails in tow; hundreds of happy, happy children.

Download the movie

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Oconee