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Downtown Benton event highlights busy weekend of area Easter egg hunts |
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Thursday, 09 April 2009 |
A number of Easter egg hunts and related activities in Saline County are available to area youngsters this week, starting today with an egg hunt at Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton and continuing through Easter Sunday.
Downtown Benton will unite with several community and church groups to sponsor “Easter Safari” on Saturday, event coordinator Lisa Baldwin said.
The annual Easter egg hunts will be held at the Saline County Courthouse. Children will be able to participate in three hunts according to their age. Those 4 and younger will participate in the first hunt at 11 a.m. Children 5-8 may are invited to participate in the 11:30 a.m. hunt, and children 9-12 may take part in the noon hunt.
All eggs will be filled with prizes, Baldwin said, but no eggs will be filled with money. She said grand prizes, which have a value of more than $100, include birthday party packages from Leah’s Gymnastics and Party Central. In addition, Union Bank has donated three $50 young savers accounts.
Several church and civic organizations have assisted in donating more than 12,000 plastic eggs, Baldwin said.
The city of Bryant also has planned a special Easter event Saturday. The mayor’s egg hunt is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon at Alcoa 40 Park.
In case of rain, the hunt will be postponed until 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the multipurpose field at the park.
Following are other Easter-related events:
•Egg hunt at 4 p.m. today at Herzfeld Memorial Library. The event is open to children 3-12.
•An egg hunt sponsored by Mabelvale United Meth-odist Church from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 10500 Woodman. Drenda Gregory, children’s coordinator, has more information at 847-3291.
•An egg hunt at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at East End ballpark. Grace Church is sponsoring the event. More than 15,000 eggs will be available.
•An egg hunt sponsored by Calvary Baptist Church in Benton. The event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
•An egg hunt at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Parkview Unit-ed Methodist Church, 514 N. Border St., Benton. Break-fast snacks, fun and games will be provided along with the Easter bunny.
•An egg hunt and celebration sponsored by New Life Baptist Church, 1065 Samp-les Road, Alexander. The event is scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday.
•An egg hunt at 9:45 a.m. Easter Sunday at Friends in Christ Lutheran Church, 4305 Arkansas 5 North.
At the celebration Satur-day in Downtown Benton, area businesses are participating the “Search for the Golden Easter Egg” event that has been part of the city’s Easter celebration for several years, Baldwin said.
The clue search is open to all children who are accompanied by an adult, she said.
The search will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and begin in front of the Saline County Republican headquarters at the corner of Sevier and Market streets. It is sponsored by Gateway Church.
“Clue hunters will go on safari to look for clues that will lead them to the prized golden egg, worth over $300 in toys,” Baldwin said. “Hunters will experience tropical locations without leaving Benton. Some of the clue stops will take them under water and through a jungle.”
A grand celebration, sponsored by Mount Carmel Baptist Church, will await all hunters at the end of the trail. Winning the golden egg is not determined by finding the egg first, but by completing the clue trail and turning in a completed clue card for a random drawing.
Additional activities will be offered. Baldwin said an “inflatable fun area” will be set up in front of the courthouse on Sevier Street and will feature a giant slide, an obstacle course and a moon walk. A one-time cost of $3 per child will apply. All other activities are free.
Children may visit the Easter bunny from 10 a.m. to noon at the courthouse gazebo.
Parents are invited to bring cameras to photograph their children at the event, Baldwin said. Live animals will be on hand to contribute to the safari theme.
The event is coordinated by Downtown Benton. Pro-motions were paid for by the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission.
Groups who have assisted with the project are Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Saline County Master Gard-eners Club, Saline Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Benton Lions Club, Golden ‘K’ Kiwanis Club, First United Methodist Church of Benton, Saline County 4-H Club, First Baptist Church of Benton, county officials, Salem Baptist Church, Council Girl Scouts, Gateway Church and Central Arkan-sas Development Council.
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