Egg hunts, Easter Bunny return

The Easter bunny is back.

After taking a break during the COVID pandemic, the bunny will be the special guest at several egg hunts and events around Yamhill County on Saturday, April 16, and on April 17, Easter Sunday.

Sponsored by local firefighters or other organizations, all the egg hunts are free. Just remember to get there well before the starting time; once the bunny says “go,” all the eggs and candy will be snapped up in the blink of a rabbit’s eye.

One Easter egg hunt will take place a week earlier than the rest: The annual adaptive egg hunt for children with special needs and their families.

Sponsored by McMinnville Parks and Recreation and The Grove Church, the adaptive egg hunt will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in Discovery Meadows Park.

It is open to anyone with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities and their siblings and parents. Admission is free.

If it’s raining, the event will turn into a drive-by egg hunt. If the weather is good, children can search for eggs, candy and gifts in a variety of ways, such as hunting for eggs that beep or candy in a bin at wheelchair level.

Other events listed below will take place on April 16. Most start at 10 a.m.; Dayton is an exception, with an event for younger children at 9:30 a.m. and one for older kids at 10 a.m.

And one of the usual Easter events will be missing this year: The Lions egg hunt in McMinnville’s Wortman Park. Because of changing COVID restrictions earlier this year, club members decided to postpone the return of their event until 2023.

Here are hunts that will happen:

Vineyard Heights Assisted Living and Retirement Cottages will host an Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 16.

The event for children ages 1 to 12 will be held at 10 a.m. at the retirement center, 345 Southwest Hill Road South, McMinnville. The Easter Bunny will be there for photos.

Admission is free, although donations will be accepted.

In addition, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 1040 S.E. First St. in McMinnville, will host an Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16.

Also in McMinnville, Easter eggs will help child abuse prevention during the annual Juliette’s House fundraiser, “Egg My Yard.” Donors can sign up to have candy-filled eggs hidden in their yards in time for Easter morning, Sunday, April 17.

Orders are due by April 10. Cost is $30 for 40 eggs, $55 for 80 eggs and $75 for 120 eggs.

To order eggs, visit www.julietteshouse.org.

Amity

Amity Fire Department will host the annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in Amity City Park.

Carlton

Carlton fire volunteers will host an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in Wennerberg Park, the lower park in Carlton.

Dayton

Dayton High School FFA members will offer two Easter egg hunts Saturday, April 16, for different age groups, a tradition in Dayton.

For third-graders and younger children, an egg hunt will start at 9:30 a.m. in Blockhouse Park. Another, for grades four to six, will begin at 10 a.m. on the Dayton Grade School field.

In addition, Dayton Christian Church, 520 Church St., will offer an egg hunt on Easter Sunday, April 17. The event will start at 9 a.m., with the worship service following.

Gaston

Gaston Rural Fire District volunteers will host an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. sharp Saturday, April 14, in Brown Park. Children can come to the fire station at 9:30 a.m. for treats and tours of the fire engine, too.

Lafayette

Lafayette Community Church will host an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in Joel Perkins Park.

Sheridan

Sheridan Baptist Church, 643 E. Main St., will host an egg hunt for its Sunday school attendees following the 10:30 a.m. service on Easter, April 17. For more information, call the church, at 503-843-3158.

Willamina

No hunt is planned.

Yamhill

Yamhill Fire Protection District will host an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, in Beulah Park.

CUTLINE FILE