Kiwanis Park had a full field as hundreds gathered on Saturday for a high-energy Easter egg hunt, where children ran full speed across the grass and cleared the field in minutes.
More than 300 people gathered for the longtime tradition hosted by the Battle Ground Kiwanis Club.
Support from Fire District 3, the Battle Ground Police Department and Scouting America Cub Scout Pack 443 helped bring the annual event together. Members of the Salmon Creek Kiwanis Club prepared breakfast meals for attendees hours before the egg hunt began at 10:30 a.m.
Josie Calderon, president of the Battle Ground Kiwanis Club, noted attendance was significantly higher than in previous years.
“It was amazing this year. We had a lot more of a turnout,” she said. “We had so many kids ready to come to this Easter egg hunt and take these eggs.”
Calderon said the combination of good weather, expanded activities and community support contributed to the strong showing. With so many children present, the egg hunt itself lasted close to five minutes.
“I like to stand behind the line and wait for the fire department to blow that horn and watch all these kids just full force run to go pick up these eggs,” she said. “I think that's the best part of this.”
Longtime Kiwanis member Bill Tucker noted the event has been a staple in the community for over four decades, evolving alongside the city while keeping its focus on families. The annual tradition received a smaller turnout during the years that followed the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was really popular, and then of course COVID came,” Tucker said. “For a couple of years, we had people drive by and we handed them a sack with some eggs with candy in it.”
Tucker has enjoyed watching the egg hunt return to its traditional format, as he gets to witness the special moments that are usually taken for granted.
“The kids … really get excited about it and have a lot of fun,” Tucker said. “... I'd have three or four eggs in my pocket, and if somebody got out there and didn't get a chance to get some, I'd say, ‘Well, I think I can find you some,’ and then I'd take them out. ‘Oh, there's one right there,’ that I dropped out of my hand. It’s fun just to be able to help the shy ones that got lost in the rush.”
Calderon added that the organization is always looking for new members interested in helping continue traditions like the annual hunt. Readers can learn more by visiting facebook.com/BattleGroundKiwanis or calling 562-569-1714.
