After three years of cancellations due to poor weather and unforeseen circumstances, representatives from K.A.R.E. for Kids are happy to announce that their annual Easter egg hunt is back and better than ever. 

On Saturday, April 3, hundreds of local children flocked to Veterans Memorial Park in Dawson County to participate in the annual Easter event, which was bigger than ever before, with more than 40,000 bright plastic eggs full of candy and prizes scattered across fields at the park. 

K.A.R.E. for Kids President Rhonda Goodwin said that she and her organization were happy with the turnout for the community egg hunt. 

“All the parking lots were full so there were a lot of people here,” Goodwin said. “I was directing traffic and trying to look at car tags and most of them were Dawson, and some of them were out of state tags so probably family visiting for the holiday.” 

Dozens of children of all ages rushed onto the fields as soon as the egg hunt started, gathering up all the eggs and other prizes in a matter of minutes. Some of the eggs were gold “prize eggs” with tickets for larger prizes like bicycles. 

Before and after the hunt itself, children and parents purchased refreshments from the Dawson County High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) concession stand and the Kona Ice truck, took photos with the Easter Bunny and played on the three bouncy houses set up around the field. 

Goodwin said that, especially in the wake of COVID-19 and not being able to have the hunt last year, she thinks that community members were especially excited for the event this year. 

“We’re very happy; it was a beautiful day and I think people are ready to get out,” she said. “And I didn’t hear any complaining which is always a great thing.”