Easter is coming and that’s ‘eggcellent’ news for kids

FERGUS – Kids who want to see the Easter Bunny will enjoy hopping to downtown Fergus and Elora in the weeks leading up to Easter.

And there are prizes to be won as well.

Claire Knight, of Claire and Greg Real Estate Group, and Jenn Locke of Jenn Locke Mortgages, are resurrecting the Golden Egg Hunt they initiated last year.

Children are invited to pick up a golden egg at a participating business and will find “treasures” inside along with a draw ticket for a prize.

Take a photo of yourself with your egg at one of the businesses, post it on Facebook or Instagram and tag the business plus #CWGoldenEgg, and you’ll get an additional draw ticket.

The prizes are donated by local businesses.

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“It was a huge hit last year,” said Knight in a phone interview.

“Lots of retailers and community members were asking in January if we would do it again.”

“And the climate has really changed in a year,” Locke added.

“Last year we were in potential lockdown and the egg hunt was about lifting spirits and bringing people to local businesses.

“This year COVID is (waning), but there’s inflation, people are struggling, and the food bank needs our help.”

Each of the participating businesses will make a donation to the food bank and families picking up an egg are asked to make a donation of food or cash if they can.

There are 500 golden eggs this year compared to 250 last year. There is a one-egg limit per family.

The event runs from March 31 to April 8, and the draw will be made on April 10.

Prizes can be redeemed at the store offering the prize.

Golden egg collection locations include Brighten Up, Fraberts Fresh Food, I Love Chocolate and Cut & Design in Fergus, as well as  Ephiphany, Jammed Lovely and A Natural Home in Elora.

And this just in: the Easter Bunny will be hopping around Elora and Fergus the week before Easter. Families will be able schedule a visit and take photos.

Here’s the Easter Bunny’s schedule:

• Keller Williams Home Group, Elora: April 2, 9am to noon;
• Fraberts Fresh Food, Fergus: April 5, 3:30 to 4:30pm;
• The Scottish Shop, Fergus: April 6, 2 to 3pm;
• I Love Chocolate, Fergus: April 6, 3:30 to 4:30pm; and
• Brighten Up, Fergus: April 8, throughout the day.

“I hope it will be a success and continues to evolve in the years to come,” Locke said.

For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

To make a donation to the Centre Wellington Food Bank visit canadahelps.org/en/pages/cwgoldenegg-event-2023.

To book a visit with the Easter Bunny, click here.

Elora egg hunt

Knox Presbyterian Church in Elora is also holding a hunt before Easter.

Children are invited to walk downtown Elora, find  posters in certain store windows, and write down on a ballot sheet the store and number on the poster.

Then drop the ballots in the “Knox box” outside the church, and swing by the church on April 8 from 10 to noon to redeem your prize.

This hunt begins March 24, and all ballots must be received by April 6.

Jean Jackson, who is coordinating the event, said the inaugural hunt last year  went over very well.

“It benefitted businesses, and they are enthused about doing it," she said.

"But it’s mainly for outreach and to give the kids something fun to do."