Wallkill families, friends and residents joined together on the lawn of the Wallkill Public Library to ring in the Easter weekend with the annual egg hunt. The egg hunt on Saturday, March 30 was once again hosted by the Wallkill Lions Club.

Families began to gather on the lawn for the hunt just before 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Despite the morning chill, families with their kids were ready to collect as many eggs as they could. Before being collected, there were about 1,000 plus eggs out on the field.

Members of the Lions Club such as President Dave LaSpada and Chris Keller eagerly awaited for the start time of the egg hunt and for the families to make their way onto the field. Other club members and families spent time with each other laughing and talking.

“It’s a little windy, but we have no rain, which is the first time in a few weekends so we lucked out,” said Keller. “I really have to thank the parents for bringing their kids because they’re cooking, they’re cleaning, they’re getting ready for tomorrow [Easter].”

“We know that we’ve always got a pretty good turnout so we expect a good crowd here,” said LaSpada. “When the parents leave here with the smiles on their kids’ faces, they’re so appreciative of it. It’s [the egg hunt] very well received. We give them all a bag of candy and they just love it. I just want to thank the local community for their support.”

Alongside the Lions Club members, members of the Wallkill High School Leo Club also made their way to the hunt and helped with the running of the event. “I think it’s a beautiful time of year. This event can really bring the community together and it’s beautiful to see everyone celebrate,” said Grace Lang.

“It’s a great turnout so I’m excited to see all the eggs being hunted,” said Caitlin Dougherty. “Definitely a time for family and friends and reflecting on those you care about.”

“We always try to help the Lions Club so whenever they need help we come,” said Katelyn Krupp. “I love just to be around family and it’s a great time of year to see everybody that we can’t see often.”

“I’m glad to see all the people that came and I’m excited to see how it turns out,” said Liam McCarthy. “I think it’s really important to look at how an event like this brings the community together and how people can come and enjoy it with their kids.”

Special guests of the hunt included the Easter Bunny and a Wallkill Lion who made their way onto the field with the Lions Club members. With instructions given about the hunt, the signal was called and kids and their parents rushed the field to collect their eggs.

In several minutes, all of the eggs on the field were completely collected. To end a special day, families were given bags of candy and other treats and thus concluded another successful egg hunt.