Indoor Easter egg hunt draws thousands of children

This year's Schnucks Easter egg hunt was held indoors, but that didn't stop thousands of children from attending.

Because the ground at Arena Park was saturated by last week's rain, the 15th annual hunt was moved to the Osage Community Centre. About 4,300 children attended, said Schnucks general manager Dennis Marchi.

"It's the first time we've had it inside in 15 years. This year we made the decision Thursday. Here there are no worries. It takes the climate out of it," he said.

Osage Community Centre recreation manager "Penny Williams was accommodating and helpful when asked if the event could be held here," Marchi said. Williams said an open gym had been the only Saturday event for the community center.

At 9 a.m., it was standing room only around the perimeter of a 106-by-153-foot space, about two-thirds the size of the Osage Community Centre floor.

Children had 20 minutes to clear off the gym floor strewn with some Easter candy but mainly snacks and fruit-flavored soft drinks in pastel and metallic wrappers.

The 2- and 3-year-olds cleaned the floor in three minutes, leaving 17 minutes to prepare for the 4- to 6-year-old hunt. Some just waited or watched about a dozen people scatter candy and snacks working from the outer square closest to them, to the inside once the job was complete. Children danced, played hand-held games, ate candy and checked out their baskets and bags of candy — or those of their siblings and friends.

"We come every year. I remember coming as a kid," said Lisa Picou of Cape Girardeau, who was there with her children, 5-year-old Brooklyn and 7-year-old Malerie, She said it was OK being inside for the hunt but missed being outdoors for the spring event.

Altogether $9,000 worth of treats were spread out on the floor for all the hunts.

Marchi said the sponsors providing the loot have been loyal for 15 years of the hunt's existence. "We really started this 15 years ago because a lot of people we knew had no place to hold an Easter egg hunt," he said.

Sisters Heather McKinnie of McClure, Ill., and Julie Powell of Jackson sat on the floor with their children after the first hunt, waiting for the next. McKinnie heard about the hunt on the radio and called her sister to see if she'd like to go. McKinnie said she'd gotten in from work at 4:45 a.m. and didn't really mind sacrificing the sleep because her 2-year-old son, Levi, was enjoying himself. Levi peered into his basket, pleased with his gummi bears, Hostess cakes and Reese's peanut butter cups.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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