ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Late March is here, and with spring officially kicking off last week, that means Easter Sunday cannot be far behind.

This year, Easter falls on April 5, and as is tradition for the holiday, many churches, schools and other organizations host Easter egg hunts for children of all ages.

This year, Liberal’s Baker Arts Center is inviting everyone to celebrate Easter with a Golden Egg Hunt Monday, March 30. Director Misty Martin said the hunt is designed specific for ages, and she promises every egg gathered will have a prize inside it.

“Every egg will have a number in it,” she said. “The kids will gather their eggs, and they bring those numbers to tables. We’ll have staff at those tables, and they will be able to pick prizes.”

Martin said this is much like duck pond games at fairs which featured children picking ducks out of a pond with numbers on the bottom. This would lead to a bucket with the same number where children would pick a prize.

“You’d pick a prize from the bucket with that number,” she said. “You open an egg. It’s got a number two in it. You go to the table with number two, and you get to pick a prize from the number two table.”

A few bigger prizes will be available, but Martin said these will not be in as much supply as the smaller prizes.

“Everybody’s going to be hoping they get those big prizes,” she said. “It’ll definitely be designed for younger kids, then middle aged kids and older kids.”

Martin said many eggs will also have candy, but Baker staff is taking precautions due to restrictions on what kinds of candy children can have, as well as if they can have it and how much they can have.

“We want to make sure every kid who comes through here leaves with something that makes their heart happy,” she said.

The Golden Egg Hunt gets under way at 5:45 p.m., but Martin advised participants to arrive about 15 to 20 minutes early to settle in for the event.

“We’ll go in waves by age,” she said. “It’ll be a fun outdoor time. We’re praying for good weather.”

The timing of the hunt, Martin said, is perfect between the start of spring and the Easter holiday.

“It’s a little before the busyness of the Easter weekend coming up, and it’s something people can do to kick off Easter week,” she said. “It’s early enough in the evening where you’re not keeping your kids out late. You come, have a nice time, and you’re able to still make it home in time for dinner.”

The hunt, Martin said, will be done in increments.

“The kids will have school that day, so we want to give them time to get out of school,” she said. “A lot of parents get out of work at 5, so it gives them time to get out of work.”

Martin said the hunt also flows right into some upcoming activities in the community, including some at Baker.

“Right after Easter, we run into the Butterfly Encounter, Mother’s Day, graduation and summer activities,” she said.

Martin likewise promised several thousand eggs will be available in the hunt, so every kid should leave with something fun. She added no pre-registration is needed to take part in the hunt.

“When they come, it’s $3 for kids and adults,” she said. “The registration fees will be paid here, and they go to help fund summer programs.”

While she is excited for most of the events at Baker Arts, Martin said she is particularly ready for the Golden Egg Hunt.

“Spring is one of those times of year when new life starts,” she said. “We’ve been hibernating all winter. We’ve had the gloomy days, and now, the sun’s out. The kids are ready to  play and run, and this is a great opportunity for them to be able to do that.”