Anna Ford was delighted with the sign directing families to the Easter Egg Hunt at Nottoway Park held Saturday, April 15. Michael Ford, Anna's dad, said, "Anna came last year and got a little. This year, her candy palate has matured." Photo by Mercia Hobson
Egg hunts are a fun Easter tradition, but more so when their timing falls in mid-April. Spring has sprung, and children can run and hunt outdoors. Nottoway Park offered the outdoor setting and planning opportunities for an Easter Egg Hunt held Saturday, April 15, that attracted parents, grandparents and children ages 1-9 years old.
Early Saturday morning, even before a certain hoppity woodland creature awoke, volunteers were hard at work getting ready for the hunt under the direction of Vivian Morgan-Mendez, President of the Friends of Nottoway Park.
First, volunteers took care of the hunt supplies. They hauled large bags of plastic gift-filled eggs and candy as well as boxes of sports balls, buckets of chalk and envelopes containing complimentary tickets for park attractions to the site.
Next, they cordoned off a large grassy area to form the hunting circle, setting it a far distance from the surrounding mature forests just beginning to leaf out.
Finally, since a celebrity in a white fur coat and tall ears was scheduled to make a photo opportunity appearance, the volunteers erected a tent to keep him cool. They decorated it and placed two chairs there. One seat was for the celebrity guest, set to show up any moment, and the other for any child who might want to get a little closer, but not too close to a 7-foot-tall white rabbit with huge feet sporting a vest and holding a giant carrot.
A Mr. MacFreeze food truck sold homemade Belgian waffles and fruit ice pops to the arriving visitors. Bunny-ear headbands, tutus, and sparkly shoes seemed to be the dress for many little girls while quite a few little boys sported either plaid or super-hero shirts. Without fail though, each child carried an Easter basket.
Linda Smyth, Providence District Supervisor, promoted the effort to her constituents. Present at the egg hunt to help out for its 10th year she said, "I come every year and get in the spirit of the fun, and this year we have great weather."
Ken Quincy, Providence District representative on the Park Authority Board also attended the event. He represented the Fairfax County Park Authority, which provided the Park venue and staff support.
Roberta A. Longworth, Executive Director, Fairfax County Park Foundation served at the event. Longworth explained the Friends of Nottoway Park in partnership with the Fairfax County Park Foundation sponsored the event. Proceeds would be donated through the Fairfax County Park Foundation with 100 percent of those donations used for Nottoway Park.
Fairfax County Park Authority operates Nottoway Park at 9601 Courthouse Road, Vienna. For more information about Fairfax County Park Authority visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks. For more details about the nonprofit organization, Fairfax County Park Foundation, visit www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org.