Christmas Hill Park is Hoppin' for Easter

If you’re looking for a place to take the kiddies this Easter, head over to Christmas Hill Park for the ultimate Easter-themed extravaganza.

Members from and participating organizations are having an Easter egg hunt at the park Saturday, and there’s enough entertainment to keep the kiddies occupied all day.

The annual event, kicking off in 2009, grows each year in size and services. Last year around 2,000 children and adults partook in the searching and gathering of over 33,000 eggs, and this year organizers are shooting for 40,000, according to event organizer Tony Boykins.

“We’re at 38 thousand eggs right now, our goal is 40 thousand from today to tomorrow,” Boykins said. “There’s a real good possibility that it may even be over 40 thousand."

Newborns all the way up to 12-year-old preteens can partake in a hunt for Easter eggs. The goal is to have more eggs each year, according to Boykins, who said organizers counted between 33 to 35 thousand eggs in 2011.

Aside from the hunts, there will be game booths with prizes, face painting, raffles, food and music—and the plethora of activities doesn't stop there. Attendees will have the chance to be photographed with the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed bunny himself, and the event is essentially free.

“We're dealing with a lot of families and kids that are underprivileged,” Boykins said. “We really want to have an event that’s attainable, where they don’t have to spend a lot of money so the kids can go out and enjoy themselves.”

Boykins said attendees may have to pay a few dollars to cover the cost of materials for Easter bunny photos, but that everything else is free once attendees register.

Saturday’s shindig will happen thanks to several organizations, including the , the Gilroy Gang Task Force, the Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA), the Gilroy Elks Lodge, , and the .

Participants organized the event not only to see the swarm of sugar-fueled youngsters enjoying themselves, but to also create an environment where children and parents can feel safe.

“We work to make this a safe place for the children. When they go through [the event] they get candy and they sit on the ground and eat. They’re smiling, eating and having a good time,” Boykins said. “There’s no gang violence, there’s no arguing, no fuss, people just come through with their children—it’s a peaceful day.”

To attend the event, show up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Christmas Hill Park located at 7050 Miller Ave. in Gilroy, Saturday. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the first egg hunt should begin about 11 a.m. Attendees will be given different colored wristbands to represent the different age brackets for each egg hunt.

Here’s a list of a few anticipated highlights for Saturday’s event:

• Raffles for different Easter baskets
• Multiple Easter egg hunts, one for each age bracket
• Face painting
• Jump houses
• Food and treats
• Birdhouse building with members of the Elks Club. The bird houses will be given to children afterward
• Game booths and prizes
• Arts and crafts
• Christian music
• A choir performance organized by the Salvation Army