Plenty of Easter Egg hunts will abound this weekend including the annual EGGstravaganza and a hunt determined to delight spring senses at Texas Sage.
Dublin’s 5th EGGStravaganza is hopping into town Saturday, April 4 at the City Park, and will be held regardless if the weather decides to rain or not.
The free event organized by Dublin Dairy Queen and The Dublin Citizen with nonprofit sponsor CWJC is set from 9-11 a.m. with all hunts set to begin at 9:30 a.m.
The event will be held rain or shine. (If rain is forecast it will be moved under the pavilion in the park).
Divided hunts by age include birth to three, 4-6, 7-9 and 1012.
A variety of toys and candy are filled inside the eggs, as well as DQ tokens (for a free cone) and one special ‘Blizzards for a Year’ egg.
The event was started five years ago by DQ Manager Shanna Phelps who wanted kids and families in the Dublin area not to have to travel outside the town for a large Easter Egg hunt.
“All holidays are something every child should be able to enjoy. Making smiles and memories is what this Easter event is about. Our community support has been great throughout the years and the kids enjoy being able to spend Easter in their hometown,” Phelps said.
Support for the event was humbling this year between lead sponsors, other sponsors with donations and community members buying items from an Amazon wishlist (which had to be reset four times due to the large response from the community).
“This event isn’t about one person, or even one group. From the businesses making donations, to volunteer egg stuffers, to those who stepped out and purchased items from our Amazon lists, each and every contribution makes a huge difference. We well exceeded our goal of 16,000 eggs and for that we say thank you,” Dublin Citizen Content Editor Wyndi Veigel-Gaudette said. Sponsors for this year’s event include Golden Egg Sponsor Stephenville Evening Lions Club, Shell-ebration Sponsors Dublin Chamber of Commerce, Dublin Family Worship, Church for the Lost and Found, City of Dublin, Brookshire Brothers and Golden Chick, More Cool Peeps sponsors includes Harrell Funeral Home, Granny Clark’s, Texas Bank, Dublin Lions Club, Card My Yard, Dublin Insurance Agency, Titan Fitness, Dublin Public Library, Higginbothams and Legacy Estates; Some bunny loves us sponsors include Central Inn, Shenanigans Irish Pub, First National Bank, Loper Systems, Lilly G Arena Productions, Sharon Hiett, Sandy and Norm Gaudette, Melissa Crews, Kelci Frost, Laura Leatherwood, Shannon Foster, Marcie Warner, Mindy Gardner Ind. Mary Kay Consultant, Rosemary Bencik, Kristin Thomas, Pat Tyus and Vickie Bamber.
A special thank you goes to volunteers Kristin Thomas who organized, cleaned and matched all recycled eggs prior to this year, and to Terry Kline who donated a popcorn machine for the continued use by the EGGStravaganza committee.
Not only will the event have more than 17,000 filled eggs, but there will also be free hot dogs provided by Dublin Family Worship, popcorn, free tea by Golden Chick, free water by Brookshire Brothers and bounce houses. The Easter Bunny and Golden Chick’s chicken will also be at the hunt for photo opportunities with an Easter backdrop.
At Texas Sage, a hunt will be held at 1 p.m. The age-divided hunt will allow kids to hunt for Easter eggs throughout the plants at the nursery. The hunt is free and Texas Sage is located at 2554 Hwy. 6 in Dublin.