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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.