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WILKES-BARRE — Saturday’s warm, sunny skies were perfect weather for hundreds of families who flocked to Public Square to partake in some Easter fun.
The Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association held its annual Easter egg hunt, serving up everything from treats, prizes and even a bunny trail throughout the area.
Times Leader Media Group was among the event’s sponsors.
“We want to attract people to downtown. We want to show them the benefits and how nice the downtown is, and this is one of the (many events) we have,” Wilkes-Barre mayor Tony George declared.
Just before 10 a.m. the sound of sirens made children turn their heads toward South Main Street as they watched the arrival of Peter Cottontail on a fire truck.
Beginning a “bunny” chant, the Easter Bunny stepped off the truck as he made his way toward the swarm of cheering children. Upon his arrival, George gifted the bunny with a special golden egg.
“It represents cohesiveness with all the groups that are trying to make businesses come alive in Wilkes-Barre,” event coordinator Patty Hughes said of the egg hunt.
Kicking off the festivities with a series of egg hunts, children quickly gathered around sections of Public Square as they awaited for the sound of the buzzer. Soon after, families were happily searching for the brightly colored eggs, which contained either a sweet treat or a prize ticket.
While the hunt was more of a race for older children, Brandy Yeninas was more than happy to watch her 9 month-old daughter, Aspen, happily play with an egg and some straw.
“It’s her first Easter, you can’t not bring her out to see the bunny and grab some eggs.” she said.
After completing the final hunt, DWBBA promotions committee member Samantha Bennett urged families to utilize several offerings throughout he day, such as free hot dogs and the “Bunny Trail”, which provided an array of free activities at places like the Osterhout Library, the F.M. Kirby Center and Barnes & Noble.
“We love this event. This is one of my favorites all year,” she said. “We love to see the kids come down and spend the day in Downtown Wilkes-Barre.”
Bennett said the committee began planning the event months ago, adding that the fun, free day couldn’t continue without the support of local businesses, organizations and volunteers.
As many children transitioned from grabbing eggs to opening them, Yeninas said not only would she return for future events, but that she hopes things like the egg hunt will continue in the city.
“It’s great, they need to keep doing things like this for the kids,’ she said. “Especially having a little one, its great to get her outside and be around other kids from the area.”
