SALISBURY – On the grass and under the trees were hundreds of colorful Easter eggs.
By the shelter, waiting impatiently, were about 40 kids.
Saturday’s picture-perfect weather gave families at the Easter Egg-stravaganza, sponsored by the local Order of the Eastern Star, a perfect day to play games and enjoy food and music.
And, of course, find the plastic eggs secreted around Town Creek Park.
This was the third year that Grace Chapter 222 of the Order of the Eastern Star has put on the event, said chairperson Karizma Caldwell.
For the third annual installment, Caldwell said, “We wanted to make it a little bigger.”
In addition to the egg hunt and refreshments, there was a cupcake walk – a miniature cake walk, of course – plus other carnival-style games for the kids to enjoy.
The Salisbury Fire Department’s safety house and a fire engine were also on display.
Volunteers from Nefertiti Chapter 889, Landis, and Vashti Chapter 122, Salisbury, of the Order of the Eastern Star supported the event.
For the kids, Caldwell said, “this is a tradition.”
There were plenty of prizes for those who took part.
But the highlight, of course, was the hunt.
Volunteers handed out baskets and lined up the kids for two separate egg hunts in different parts of the park.
The younger kids, some with parents’ help, got to hunt first.
Rahsheda Rhodes held daughter Adrianna, age 10 months, before the hunt.
Nearby, Vance Smith of Salisbury joked that the youngest kids there “will probably find more eggs than anyone else, ‘cause they’re close to the ground.”
Smith, who said he recently moved from Washington, D.C. was there with family and neighbors to give their kids a day out.
He said it was “encouraging, good to see” the community come together. “It all starts with the kids,” Smith said.
Eric Holland brought his nephew Jayden, 4, and daughter Erianna, 3.
“It feels good to be here,” Holland said. They were in town to visit from Statesville, and chose to spend the day out hunting eggs.
They were among a number of out-of-town visitors who made the event part of their day.
“There’s one!” said Cynthia Graham to great-granddaughter Zahara Krider, as the family moved across the lawn.
A bit later, she paused to let the younger folks go on ahead.
“We can’t move as fast as they can!” Graham said, smiling.
A native of Salisbury now living in Salisbury, Graham called the event and the day “gorgeous.”
“There aren’t too many people who can live to see their great-grandchildren,” she said. “It’s a blessing to be able to run and play with them.”
Contact Hugh Fisher via the editor’s desk at 704-797-4244.