Mon, 04/21/2025 - 4:16pm

Golden Egg finders received age-appropriate Easter baskets at the April 19 EGGstravaganza. From left, Chad Murray and Caitlin Murphy with son Oliver Murray, age 5 and 51 weeks; Easter Bunny, Hannah Prest and son Hudson Martin, 17 months. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

This little girl got a jump on the candy-filled eggs in her basket, but returned quickly to the starting line! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

And ... they're off! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Gigi DeLisle paints spring flowers on a youngster's cheek. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Zion Lewis checks out his egg hunt treasures. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Egg hunting friends Thomas Fleming and Paulina Robertson. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Golden Egg winner Oliver Murray with parents Caitlin Murphy and Chad Murray. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Families emptied the found eggs to be reused next year. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Face painter Nikki Main begins a design. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Younger kids Golden Egg finder Hudson Martin with mom Hannah Prest, emcee Darrell Gudroe and the Easter Bunny. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Ashton Rego's children Griffin and Hazel say hello to the Easter Bunny. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Tiny ones on their first egg hunt. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Sharing. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

This little girl got a jump on the candy-filled eggs in her basket, but returned quickly to the starting line! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

And ... they're off! LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Gigi DeLisle paints spring flowers on a youngster's cheek. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Zion Lewis checks out his egg hunt treasures. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Egg hunting friends Thomas Fleming and Paulina Robertson. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Golden Egg winner Oliver Murray with parents Caitlin Murphy and Chad Murray. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Families emptied the found eggs to be reused next year. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Face painter Nikki Main begins a design. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Younger kids Golden Egg finder Hudson Martin with mom Hannah Prest, emcee Darrell Gudroe and the Easter Bunny. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Ashton Rego's children Griffin and Hazel say hello to the Easter Bunny. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Tiny ones on their first egg hunt. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Sharing. LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

LISA KRISTOFF/Boothbay Register

Classic and new children's song soundwaves wafted in the air as families arrived for the Easter EGGstravaganza at the Boothbay Fire Station April 19. Many children arrived in bunny ears (as did emcee Darrell Gudroe) keeping a firm hold on their baskets, bags and other assorted containers that would hold as many candy-filled colored eggs as possible.

The 3,315 eggs each concealed candy and a toy. The contents were combined donations from community members and Boothbay Region Fire Auxiliary (BRFA). The Auxiliary members also gathered to fill all of the eggs in one night!

Shortly after 1 p.m. hunt day, Gudroe announced the littles' hunting area was on the far left side of the field in the driveway area and the older kids, while the older kids lined up at the edge of the field.

Before Gudroe started the countdown, he directed the crowd's attention to a toddler running out into the big field, picking up an egg, placing it in her pail and skipping back to the starting line. And then the countdown ... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ... and the kids were off!

After most of the eggs were gathered, Gudroe announced the two Golden Eggs were still out there somewhere. In fairly short order, both were discovered by very young participants: 5-year-old going on 6, Oliver Murray, and 17-month-old Hudson Martin.

Both children received the Golden Egg grand prize: Easter baskets filled with age-appropriate toys and candy.

After the hunt, kids and their families re-fueled with hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks, cupcakes and cookies before playing field games, getting their cheeks painted by facepainters Nikki Main and Gigi DeLisle, and/or visiting with two white rabbits looking for new homes.

Sugar-charged kids and their families slowly made their way back to their cars.