Lakeside Egg Hunt Heats Up In Syracuse
- The Lakeside Egg Hunt commences with a horn blast at 10:30 a.m.
- Gracie Eling, age 3, finds some Easter eggs with the help of her Aunt Erin.
- Syracuse Community Center worker, Amanda Torres counts 13 eggs for Kaitlyn McCreary, age 6, of Syracuse. McCreary received a dime per egg.
- Noah Heckaman, age 3, of Syracuse, left, and Emmitt Jaress, age 4, of North Webster, enjoy a free lunch in the Syracuse community center after the hunt in a standing position.
- Milford’s Tanner Dippon, age 5, watches as Pipsqueak the clown fashions a balloon animal.
SYRACUSE — Hundreds gathered at the Syracuse community center and Lakeside Park, Saturday, March 19, for the Lakeside Egg Hunt. The event was well attended despite the windy chill, which made a furry Easter bunny costume sound like a good idea.
As the horn sounded at 10:30 a.m., over 200 children, from toddlers to 10-year olds, carrying bags and buckets, raced to pick up eggs scattered over three areas designated for ages 0-3, 4-6 and 7-10. Within minutes the hunt was over, and families sought the warmth of the community center, where they were able to exchange each found egg for ten cents. Nine golden eggs were also hidden; these earned their owners gift baskets.
“We expected about 250 people,” said Tyler McLead, program director of the Syracuse community center. According to McLead, 2,500 eggs were distributed around the hunting area.
After claiming their prizes, attendees enjoyed a free lunch in the community center gym, where parents took advantage of more photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny and local clown duo, Clarabelle and Pipsqueak, who handed out candy and made balloon hats and animals.
The Lakeside Egg Hunt was sponsored by Syracuse American Legion Post #223, Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club, Wawasee Bowl, and donations were also made by local businesses for prizes and gift baskets.