4A ● APPEAL TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 Life in the Valley y sanews@salem.gannett.com APPEAL TRIBUNE FILE Come Saturday, April 15, there will be plenty of egg hunts in the Stayton and Silverton areas. Are you on a hunt for Easter egg-citement? Festive events are planned in the Silverton, Stayton areas ANNETTE UTZ SPECIAL TO THE STAYTON MAIL SPECIAL TO THE APPEAL TRIBUNE A child places eggs in a basket at a Kiwanis egg hunt last year. With Easter just around the corner, colorful candies and chocolate bunnies jars are popping up all over. Come Saturday, April 15, there will be plenty of egg hunts in the Stayton and Sil- verton areas busy with youngsters seek- ing hidden treasures. Unless otherwise noted, events are free and bounty hopefuls will be divided into age groups for safety purposes and fair opportunities. One of the largest in the area takes place at Bauman Farms which offers an Easter eggtravaganza at 12989 Howell Prairie Road in Gervais. The group’s approach to the occasion is slightly different than most. Recommended for children 12 and younger, families can come out anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and every five to 10 minutes groups of 10 to 15 children are released into the field. Everybody gets to collect 12 empty eggs and then fill them with their choice of candy or toys. “We’d been doing the ‘mad dash’ for about 10 years but we developed this new format a few years back and it definitely solved a lot of issues and made it a lot eas- ier,” co-owner Sarah Bauman-Farrell said. “It’s not longer a frenzy out in the garden. We even used to hide eggs in places that we thought there was no way anyone would find them but they scram- bled to get every last one. This way ev- eryone gets 12 eggs, regardless, and they are walking around calmly. “It’s safer for the kids and better for families because age doesn’t matter. They can all go out together. We also get a lot of very young kids and kids with di- etary restrictions so parents can be there to advise when they choose their treats. It’s so much nicer for families and they’re loving it.” Cost for the event is $5 per egg hunter, which includes a jumping pillow. If weather permits, additional activities such as bouncy houses, an obstacle course and the bug train will be available for $3. For more information, call (503) 792-3524. There are several other Saturday op- tions in the area for free egg adventures. In Stayton/Sublimity, children 10 and younger will not have to worry about put- ting all their eggs in one basket. At 11 a.m., the Knights of Columbus will host its annual egg search in the field of St. Boniface Church, 375 SE Church St., Sublimity. Food items or cash dona- tions will be accepted to benefit the Stay- ton Food Bank. By that time, the Stayton Kiwanis Club will have laid their eggs throughout the Stayton Community Center Park at 400 W. Virginia St., behind the library and Memorial Pool. The hunt begins at 1 p.m.. Special prizes in the past have in- cluded items beyond a stuffed bunny, such as handmade quilts. Silverton’s version of the holiday ritu- al will be hosted by the Silverton Elks Lodge and will take place at 10 a.m. at the Mark Twain School, 425 N. Church St.. It is open to children ages one through 12. Elsewhere, the Aumsville Easter Egg Hunt begins at 9:50 a.m. at Mill Creek Park, 1110 Mill Creek Road, for children ages 1 through 9. Ages 1 through 3 must be assisted by one adult. A little farther south, an egg hunt for children in sixth grade and younger will be held at the Aldersgate Camps and Re- treat Center, 7790 Marion Road SE, Tur- ner. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. with the dash beginning at 1 p.m.. The event is hosted by Turning Point Com- munity Church. Easter story telling will be included. If Saturday didn’t yield quite enough rewards, there will are other opportuni- ties to stock up on Sunday. Each Sunday event begins at 1 p.m. The 15th annual Easter Egg hunt fundraiser being put on by the Gates Fire Department will take place at the Up- ward Bound Camp (the old Gates Ele- mentary School) at 40151 Gates School Road, Gates. Open to ages up to 12. Dona- tions to the fire department will be ac- cepted. Another search for treats takes place at the Santiam Valley Grange, 1140 5th St., Lyons. The Easter Bunny will be present at as many occasions as possible to greet the children. Arrive early to find your age group, bring along baskets or bags just in case and be prepared for some wet ground conditions. Most of all, be ready to have a hopping good time. Happy hunting.