Hundreds of children wore gleeful expressions as they descended on Central Park ball fields scouring every corner for the hidden gem coveted by children throughout the county — the Easter egg.
Saturday marked Santa Clara’s 41st annual city-wide easter egg hunt. The event kicked off with face painting courtesy of Robert Jones Jr. Theatre Staff, an inflatable slide and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. The Santa Clara Police and Fire Departments also had a fire engine and police car present for kids to enjoy.
The day’s festivities were capped by the egg hunt where kids raced against the clock to gather plastic, multi-colored eggs filled with tiny baubles ranging from Smarties and stickers to rubber bracelets and toys.
Amanda Gomez brought her 3-year-old daughter Nevaeh Castillo down from San Jose to visit her mother and attend the egg hunt. She said she liked that the hunt was sectioned off by age group.
“I would say it was a successful event. She is having fun. That is what’s important,” Gomez said.
Joe Kawaba, acting recreation supervisor for the Santa Clara parks and recreation department, which organizes the event, said the egg hunt is a nice way to kickoff the spring.
With more than 40 years of history, Kawaba said the egg hunt is a long-standing Santa Clara tradition that shows no signs of slowing.
“Hopefully, some of those kids that attended the egg hunt when they were young will bring some of their kids now that they are older,” he said.
Manny Uche brought his wife Mylinh Doan and two daughters Esabella, 5, and Joycelyn, 1, from San Jose for the hunt. He said the event is gaining popularity since his family first attended three years ago. Although he wished there were refreshments available, the space is good for the kids to get out of the house and move around.
“We will probably be here next year,” he said.
Chew Lam, of Sunnyvale, brought his son Nolan, 2. He said the egg hunt is a good event because it allows people in the community to engage in local festivities.
However, one thing surprised him.
“It was a lot more competitive than I expected it to be,” he said with a laugh.
Kawaba said partnerships with the Santa Clara Police and Fire Departments, Kiwanis Club, Santa Clara Public Library and the Miss Santa Clara organization made the city wide egg hunt possible.