Area communities ready for Easter egg hunts

BREWER – Brightly colored plastic eggs stuffed with candy and hidden prizes will be scattered across Doyle Field Saturday – as long as it doesn’t snow or rain – for the city recreation department’s annual Easter egg hunt.

“As of right now, we plan on being outside on the field,” Michael Martin, Brewer Parks and Recreation assistant director, said Thursday.

The annual Easter egg hunt in Brewer is one of several local egg hunts being held. There are egg hunts scheduled at two locations in Bangor, on two different days in Orono and in Glenburn and in other communities.

In Brewer, the hunt begins at 10 a.m. for those ages 3-9 and is free to residents of the city. Nonresidents are being asked to pay $1 to participate.

“There will be at least 4,000 eggs this year,” Martin said. “Some of the eggs will have special prize tokens in them.”

In addition to tokens for small prizes, such as stuffed animals and gift certificates, three golden tokens will be hidden in the eggs and the children who find them will be given bicycles donated by the Brewer Kiwanis Club. Other sponsors include the Brewer Key Club, Cumulus Broadcasting and the local Burger King. Several local restaurants and businesses also contributed prizes.

Egg hunters in Brewer will be split into two age groups, 3-5 and 6-9. Martin, who has worked for the recreation department for 18 years, said the best parts of the event are watching the younger kids hunt eggs for the first time and when children learn they’ll be taking a bike home.

“They’re all excited,” he said. “We always have a huge crowd. It’s great to see families come out.”

For information on the Brewer event, call Brewer Parks and Recreation Department at 989-5199.

Other egg hunts include:

Friday

. Orono will hold an after-dark egg hunt for third- through eighth-graders at 7:30 p.m. at the Asa Adams School. Prizes will be drawn and each child will receive an Easter goodie bag.

Saturday

. An egg hunt will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Glenburn Elementary.

. The Bangor Parks and Recreation Department will hold its Easter egg hunt at the Union Street Athletic Complex. The event is for children from preschool through first grade.

The Easter egg hunt for preschool children will take place at 10 a.m. The egg hunt for children in kindergarten and first grade will be held at 10:15 a.m. Early arrival is advised. For information, call the recreation department at 992-4490.

. Orono also will hold an egg hunt for preschool-age children to second-graders at 10 a.m. at Asa Adams School. Each child will have an opportunity to search for Easter eggs, receive a goodie bag and will be eligible for drawings of Easter baskets and other prizes.

The Easter bunny and Monty Moose will be on hand for parents who wish to bring a camera and take pictures. The Orono event is co-sponsored by the University Credit Union.

. The Bridge Alliance is teaming up again with the Maine Discovery Museum in Bangor to provide its first Easter egg hunt for Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgendered Alliance parents and their children of all ages. The egg hunt is scheduled 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Maine Discovery Museum, 74 Main St.

The Easter bunny also will be on hand to liven up the festivities. For information, call John Costello at 945-5925, or the museum at 262-7200.