Kids, dogs can hunt for eggs in Elmhurst

Easter egg hunters, prepare for two chances to bag your treasure Saturday in Elmhurst.

The first hunt, at 10 a.m. in Wilder Park, will be presented by Elmhurst Park District and is for children ages 1 to 10.

The Easter Bunny will visit the park from 9 a.m. to noon.

This egg hunt comes with a bit of a twist. It will be followed at 10:30 a.m. by a Doggie Eggstravaganza canine costume contest. And then the whole thing goes to the dogs, who get their chance to hunt for eggs.

At 1 p.m., another egg hunt will feature plastic, candy-filled eggs nestled in the grassy turf at Wild Meadows Trace Park.

Organizers expect young, eager hunters to scoop them up with enthusiasm.

"It lasts less than five minutes," said Brenda Garcia, event volunteer coordinator and a member of the Spring Road Business Association, the nonprofit group presenting the festivities.

John DeVries, association treasurer and founder of DeVries Animal Hospital, said the event got started in 2004 and has been a spring tradition ever since.

"We were looking for kind of a springtime event," he said. "It's been a big hit. Kids enjoy it. People love it. I'll be out there. I'm the emcee. I'll be in charge of the music."

The Easter Bunny is expected to arrive around 12:30 p.m. with treats.

"The Bunny sits in the gazebo and poses for pictures with the kids," said John Quinn, an SRBA member. "A few hundred kids come out."

DeVries said roughly 3,000 eggs will be planted in the area near the park's gazebo. Children will be allowed to hunt in areas designated for specific age groups.

"We encourage people to share," he said.

Quinn said Spring Road businesses chip in to cover the costs of candy and eggs. The event is also promoted by the city's Explore Elmhurst initiative, DeVries said.

"It's open to the public and it's fun," said Garcia.

After the hunt, DeVries said several Spring Road businesses will display emblems in their windows to indicate they'll be handing out Easter treats.

"It's kind of like trick-or-treating in April," he said.

Quinn said volunteers from York High School service groups help with the event logistics. The event will go on, even if storm clouds threaten, he said.

If you go

What: Elmhurst Easter egg hunts

When and Where: 10 a.m. Saturday in Wilder Park, 175 S. Prospect Ave.; and 1 p.m. Saturday in Wild Meadows Trace Park, 511 S. York St.

Cost: Free

Info: springroad.com and epd.org