As Easter nears, egg hunts abound
With eyes wide open, their little fingers grasping the handle of the basket, they are ready.
Off they scatter to pick up all the brightly colored eggs spread over the ground. Some may be polite, others a little more aggressive.
But the Easter Egg hunt is all in good fun -- at least for the kids. Mom, dad, you get to pick up the foil candy wrappers and deal with the chocolate-infused excitement.
Here's a list of area egg hunts for this weekend and next. Get hopping!
Today
• Round Lake area: A flashlight egg hunt is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Hart's Woods, 814 Hart Road, off the main parking lot. The hunt is for kids ages 9 to 12. Admission is $5 in advance or $7 at the event.
Saturday
• Antioch: Eggcellent Easter Adventure and Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. in downtown Antioch. The parade begins on Main Street and ends at Williams Park where the egg hunt will begin at 11 a.m.
Registration is required for the egg hunt and is limited to the first 700 children (ages 1 to 10) to sign up. The cost is $2 for residents and $4 for non residents. Call (847) 395-2160.
• Fox Lake: 10 a.m. at Fox Lake's Veterans Park at 301 S. Route 59. The hunt is free for children 10 years and younger, who will be separated into age categories.
• Island Lake: 10 a.m. at village hall, 3720 Greenleaf Ave. Open to kids 8 and younger. An Easter Bash will be held immediately after until 1:30 p.m., featuring games, children's activities and an auction sponsored by the Island Lake seniors.
• Lake Zurich: 10 a.m. at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road. Kids will be separated into age categories. The hunt will be held rain or shine.
• Lindenhurst: 10 a.m. at Forest View Park, 513 Forest View Road.
• Lakemoor: 10 a.m. at Morrison Park, 233 W. Rand Road, and is open to kids 10 and younger. Kids should bring their own bag or basket.
• Long Grove: 10 a.m. for kids up to age 8; a village hunt for kids ages 9 to 12 at 10:45 p.m. after a concert at the Gazebo, featuring the Kildeer School chorus. The activities take place at Buffalo Creek Park in downtown Long Grove. Bring your own baskets.
Round Lake area: 11 a.m. for children 3 to 8 years old at Hart's Woods, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake. Bring your own basket.
• Vernon Hills: 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sullivan Community Center, 635 N. Aspen Drive. For children, ages 8 and younger, who will be separated into age groups. Children and their parents can visit with the Bunny, watch a magic show and enjoy a continental breakfast.
Registration is required. Adult resident/non-resident fee is $7/$9 and children are $5/$6. Children under 1 year get in free. Registrations can be completed online at www.vhparkdistrict.org, mail-in or drop-off at the Sullivan Center, or faxed to (847) 847-996-6801.
• Wauconda: Starting at 9:30 a.m. at the park district's community center, 600 N. Main St. Children ages 2 and younger may participate in the free hunt at 9:30 a.m. Ages 3 to 5 will go egg hunting at 10 a.m., followed by kids 6 to 9 years old at 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday
• Mundelein: Kids seven to 12 can challenge their skills with a night owl hunt at 8 p.m. at the Diamond Lake Beach, 1016 Diamond Lake Road.
Registration is required. Cost is $7 ($11 for non-residents). Call (847) 566-0650 or visit www.mundeleinparks.org. Rain date is Thursday.
• Round Lake area: The Round Lake Park District will host an Easter party at the Children's Museum on at 10 a.m. at the Round Lake Area Park District, 814 Hart Road.
There will be games, an art activity, and a snack. Mr. Rabbit will have a special prize for each child. There will also be a raffle.
The event is open to children ages 1-6 years with parent. The tickets are $7 per child or adult. Ticket deadline is today. For more information, call (847) 546-8558.
March 21
• Mundelein: For families with children ages 1 to 6 at Mundelein Community Park, 1401 N. Midlothian Road. Kids ages 1 and 2 (with parent) will be able to hunt at 10:30 a.m., followed by ages 3 and 4 at 10:40 a.m. and ages 5 and 6 at 10:50 a.m. The rain date is March 22.
March 22
• Grayslake: Remax Center will hold its 11th annual Easter egg hunt at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 50 S. Route 45, Grayslake.
Gates open at 11 a.m., and the first egg hunt starts at 11:30 a.m. The event is open to kids ages 1 to 8.
For more information, call (847) 223-7878.
• Hawthorn Woods: Kids' Spring Party from 10:30 to noon at Village Barn, 2 Lagoon Drive. Cost is $3 for members of Hawthorn Woods Women's Club, $5 for non members. Registration is required. Call (847)726-9118.
• Lake Villa: 11 a.m. at Lehmann Park, 65 Cedar Ave.
• Libertyville: Lunch with the Easter Bunny will be held at the Adler Park Lodge. Participants can eat breakfast and then hunt for eggs in Adler Park from 11 a.m. to noon.
The cost is $8 per person, $2 for children under 2. All attending must register and pay. Call (847) 918-7275 for more information.
• Waukegan: The City of Waukegan will hold its annual "Eggstravaganza" on March 22 at Belvidere Park. The event is for kids 1 to 8. The horn blows at 2 p.m. for all hunts. Entertainment begins at 1 p.m.
Don't forget brunch
• Lambs Farm Easter brunch March 23 at the Country Inn restaurant at the facility, Route 176 and the Tri-State Tollway. Seatings are at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The brunch is $18.95 for adults, $9.95 for children under 12, and children younger than 2 eat for free. After the meal, guests may tour the Lambs Farm campus and enjoy the farmyard, pet shop, thrift store, bakery and country store. Call (847) 362-5050 for information or to make reservations.