(Photos) Easter Egg Hunt still Manchester’s great youth tradition

Younger children have their own special hunting grounds so they can find eggs more easily.

Photos and story by Marsha Chartrand

It’s been a tradition at Carr Park for more years than most of us can count, that on the day before Easter the Easter Bunny makes a visit to drop off some eggs and other treats for the delight of the children of Manchester. Some years, it’s snowing. Some years, it’s raining. But the tradition continues no matter what — and the kids always have a grand time, regardless.

The park is divided into sections to separate the bigger kids from the smallest ones. All ages up to 5th grade are welcomed at the Easter Egg Hunt, so there’s a wide age variation. The Men’s Club has this system down pat, and kids are always able to find at least a few eggs, despite all the excitement and confusion.

You may be interested to know that the same Easter Bunny has visited Carr Park every Easter for 51 years! And she has no plans to stop anytime soon.

You can read the story of Manchester’s own Easter Bunny here.

Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day with just a touch of chill in the air. You wouldn’t have known it from most of the children in attendance. The excitement was palpable as noon approached. Parents were carrying sweatshirts and jackets that had already been discarded … And then, they were off!

The Easter Egg Hunt always begins at high noon, and is usually over by 12:05pm. Saturday’s hunt was no exception. The eggs were cleared out of the grass, baskets were filled, and kids were lined up to collect their rewards from their prize eggs. And candy was being consumed.

Thanks to the Manchester Men’s Club for keeping this amazing tradition going for the children of our community! Mark your calendars now for next year’s egg hunt. And don’t be late!

The Easter Bunny greeted little ones throughout Carr Park.

Easter Eggs are not the only treasures that children found in the grass … there were also toys and candy-filled eggs as well as hard-boiled ones.

And … they are off! It was a race to see who could get to the eggs and the other treats first!

Even dinosaurs were some of the treasures that little ones found in the park.

It may be surprising if no eggs got crushed in the rush!

The Sharon United Methodist Church shared a story walk at the back of the park to entertain and educate children while they waited to hunt for their eggs.

Girl Scouts helped the Men’s Club dye the Easter Eggs at St. Mary Parish Center. (Photo courtesy of Men’s Club)

What’s more fun — hard-boiling them, or coloring them? You’d have to ask this enthusiastic crew! (Photo courtesy of Men’s Club)

Pizza might be the best treat of all! (Photo courtesy of Men’s Club)

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.