Egg Hunt???

I have heard this is a GREAT hunt! And they have an adult hunt with great prizes - Liz, Nick and Becky YOU need to do this!! Come down and spend the day with us - we can have dinner that night or something - Let me know!

Jennifer

It's all about eggs (and lots of them!) as over 15,000 candy- and prize-filled eggs will be hidden over the grounds of South Park as the second annual East Central Illinois Largest Egg Hunt returns to Farmer City, Illinois. Bring along a basket or bag and join all the fun! Pre-registration time starts at 9 AM and starting times range from 11 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, April 8. The registration fee is only $5 and a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Friends in Need - Hearts that Care organization.Not only has the egg hunt increased in size this year with over 5000 more eggs than last year, this year also includes Air It Up Entertainment rides, food, face painting, balloon twisting, and magic along with the thrilling fun of searching the colorful display of eggs over the green grasses and woods of South Park. Large, costumed characters will be walking around the grounds for great photo opportunities -- don't forget your camera! And feel free to come and watch as this is one of those rare events isn't just for participants. It's just as much fun to watch the hundreds of children and adults scramble after their prized eggs.

This event is for children and adults; participants will be split up into four age categories. Children age 2-5 will begin their hunt for candy-filled eggs and small bunny whistles at 11 AM with FREE ice cream cones from Dicks Pharmacy in Arthur, IL, and FREE popcorn from the Princess Theatre in LeRoy, IL. Children age 6-11 then hunt for their eggs at 12 noon. These will be filled with small gifts and prize points that will allow them to win baskets filled with toys and candy, including art kits, bicycles, educational toys, board games, and much more. Those in the age 12-17 category will begin at 1 PM and will hunt for eggs with prize tickets in them that will award such prizes as bicycles, 35mm cameras, sport-related items, savings bonds, and more. The 18 and up category will compete at 2 PM, searching throughout the woods for eggs that may award them with $500 CASH, presented in a locked chest. In over 15,000 eggs will be hidden 100 keys. One lucky key will unlock the chest.

"It seems as though Easter Egg Hunts aren't as visible or plentiful as they once were when I was a child," said Robert Allen McIlvain, Executive Director Farmer City Merchants Association & Tourism, INC. "We wanted to have an event in our community for early spring, and this happy childhood memory came to mind." This is one reason organizations like Duckfest `06 are happy to donate to the Egg Hunt this year. Valli Hammer of Farmer City exclaims "We are excited to help support this great event for so many children by giving them at least 50 rubber ducks of different sizes for prizes." Ms. Hammer holds one of the largest collections of rubber ducks and is involved with Duckfest `06 which is designed for serious rubber duck collectors. Rockford, Illinois holds the title for Largest Egg Hunt in Illinois, and Peoria is second in the category. With help from businesses and individuals donating plastic eggs over a few years and prizes to fill them, the East Central Illinois Egg Hunt is hoping to make it into the Guinness Book of Records. Although the goal of over 15,000 plastic eggs has been met for the second year, the organization is still accepting donations of plastic eggs and goodies to fill them.

Registration is required for the Egg Hunt. The participation fee of $5 goes towards the event for next year, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Friends in Need - Hearts that Care organization which is in the process of fundraising for their first Home Makeover for Central Illinois for the Morefield Triplets in Mahomet, IL. The organization's website http://www.farmercityegghunt.com has the registration form for the East Central Illinois Largest Egg Hunt and can be downloaded and mailed into the office in advance. Registration forms can also be attained by calling their office or can be picked up at Casey's General Store in Farmer City, Fisher, Gibson City, LeRoy, Clinton, Wapella, Monticello, DeLand and Mahomet, Dicks Pharmacy of Arthur, Austin's Sportswear downtown Champaign and Illini Radio Group (The Chief 92.5) located on W. Bradley in Champaign. Farmer City Merchants Association & Tourism, INC. invites all the surrounding communities to be involved and to benefit with this event. More information is available from the Association at (217) 766-2979 or on the website at http://www.farmercityegghunt.com