Hastings 'Eggstravaganza' Egg Hunt Draws Hundreds

HASTINGS-ON-HASTINGS, N.Y. – Hundreds of tiny egg hunters converged on Reynolds Field Sunday afternoon in search of holiday treasure laid out for the picking at the Hastings annual holiday “Eggstravaganza.”

“The event has grown over the last 10 years since I’ve been involved,” Hastings Recreation Department staffer Kendra Garrison said. “We have a group of under 5-year-olds and a group of older kids in two sections. It’s amazing how fast they grab the eggs. It’s over in minutes.”

The Hastings Recreation Department and Hastings Police Benevolent Association sponsored the event, which drew more than 300 “hunters,” parents and family members to the lower Reynolds Field.  On the field, colored plastic eggs filled with chocolate were laid in plain sight for youngsters to grab.

“It’s fun for the kids and the parents seem to like it too,” Hastings Recreation staffer Bryan Healy said. “We don’t hide the eggs.  The kids under 5 are in one section and the older kids in the other. They wait for us to sound the start and then they go to it pretty quickly.”

Bags of goodies were also available for the children under 2-years-old who were too young to run the field. Many of the children and their parents remained in the park to enjoy the playground facilities after the egg hunt.

"My daughter is 3, so she really enjoyed the egg hunt as you can see," Margaret Murray said, pointing to her daughter who was counting her bounty. "It's a nice event and they do a great job running it."

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