Hundreds of people circle the grassy Herndon Town Green behind the Municipal Center for the start of the 2019 Easter Egg Hunt. Photo by Mercia Hobson.
The Town of Herndon Parks and Recreation Department offered one of its most popular events for children ages 7 and under on Saturday, April 20. Children brought their parents, grandparents, baskets and egg-hunting shoes to join in the games, crafts and hunt, or perhaps more accurately said "charge," during the 2019 Easter Egg Hunt festivities held behind the Herndon Municipal building.
As hundreds waited for the age-appropriate hunt times, a whole host of activities sponsored by businesses, nonprofits and faith-based groups kept the little tykes entertained. A small animal petting zoo by Frying Pan Farm Park drew Selena Duarte, 5, of Annandale, and Jessica Escobar, 5, of Manassas. The girls delighted in the petting one of the little white rabbits. Nearby, Jeremiah Thomas, 6, previously of Herndon, helped volunteers from Holy Cross Lutheran Church make quilt block designs for their World Relief mission gifts. Ridhi Saini, 4 of Herndon, participated in the spring flower planting take-home by Friends of Runnymede Park. "Look, I planted a flower," Saini said holding up her well-watered peat moss pot with marigold seeds. Lawrence Doll Homes, based out of Herndon, offered a paper house craft. "We are proud to sponsor and give back to the community during the 2019 Easter Egg Hunt," said Will Lange.
The best childhood memory of the day would surely be the Easter Bunny and the hunt. Children and parents gathered at the edges of the marked field. There hundreds of pastel-colored eggs lay scattered on the grass and with the hunt divided into three age groups, even the smallest children would get a chance to gather as many eggs as they could carry.
"The eggs are candy and sticker filled," said Kimmie Alcorn, Recreation Supervisor Herndon Parks and Recreation. "And there are golden tickets in some of them. Those lucky winners will receive a big Easter basket with tons of toys and goodies," she said.
Many families return to the annual Easter Egg Hunt year after year. "We've been coming for five years now. Love it. It's easy and fun, and we hope to win a golden egg this year," said Lindsey Goggin of Herndon with her children Luke, 6, Emma, 4, and Shepherd, 1.
For other families, the hunt was a novel event. "This is our first Easter Egg Hunt,' said Sara Ingrassia of Reston as she waited for a picture of her son Lukas with the Easter Bunny.
Herndon Parks and Recreation’s next big event is the 2019 Bike to Work Day held on Friday. May 17. Register to receive a free t-shirt, refreshments and a chance to be entered into a raffle for a new bicycle Cycling, will take place from 5:30-10 a.m. and from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Town Hall Green, near the intersection of Lynn and Elden Streets, just off the W&OD Trail.