second wave of kids is turned loose to gather the 3,000 plastic eggs.
Around 400 children of all ages turned out for this year’s Easter in the Park, a two-hour morning event that included an appearance by the Easter Bunny, fun-filled games, crafts of all kinds, and more.
The holiday happening at Heritage Park began with a special appearance by the Easter Bunny and ended with a search by about 150 kids for 3,000 plastic Easter eggs, each filled with a piece of candy. In between, along with several crafts tables, there were sack races, face painting, a bunny hop around the park’s paved track, egg races, rides on a miniature train and other activities.
“We are having so much fun,” exclaimed Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Emily Harp. “It’s a great day to be in the park, and we’re giving these young bunnies and chickadees a little extra reason to be tired when they go home. Maybe the parents can take a nap, too.”
Sherry James of Atmore, who chaperoned four of her grandchildren — Myasia, Tydasia, Diamond and Quindarius — shared Harp’s sentiments.
“I’m going to need a nap worse than them,” laughed James, who said this was her first Easter in the Park and that “it’s really nice.”
Harp estimated shortly before 11 a.m. that well over 300 people were in attendance. A steady stream of basket-carrying youngsters and their parents, who came just for the egg hunt, caused that number to swell.
Another gauge of the day’s success was the number of people who were still waiting at 10:45 a.m. to have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny.
“The line is still going for pictures, and we’re almost an hour and a half in,” Harp said.
The recently hired executive director said she was well pleased with her first event.
“This is the first one that falls under my title and my name, and I’m quite pleased with it,” she grinned. “I’ve learned a few things, too. But if we did nothing else except make some memories and make some babies smile, we have accomplished our mission.”
