Equipped with their easter baskets or bags and dressed in colorful attire, youngsters filled the walkways and lawn areas of Lembi Park Saturday morning to start off the Easter weekend at the City of Folsom’s Festival of Eggs.
Formerly known as the Folsom Eggstravaganza, this revived version of a city classic brought produced big smiles on little ones and provided hundreds of families with great memories as the members of the business community came together with Folsom Parks and Recreation for a fun filled morning of holiday fun.
Unlike the historical mad dash for eggs that often lasts mere minutes and leaves many kids with an empty basket if they aren’t quick enough to outrun their counterparts, Saturday’s event was impressively organized in a fashion that made sure every child had a hearty supply of handouts and treats before they left for home.
“We want to make sure that every kid that comes to the event leaves with a basket of eggs, lots of goodies and a lot of memories and smiles,” explained Frankie Newson of Folsom Parks and Recreation in speaking about the progressive changes to the event that have improved it over the last two years.
The event offered staggered arrival times for different age groups to help manage the flow of children and families for an enjoyable experience. Upon arrival, families had the opportunity to enjoy a pancake breakfast put on by the Lions Club. There was a kiddie carnival hosted by the Folsom Teen Council and will features various forms of games and activities for little ones.
After visiting all of the different stops along the way and have their map stamped at the various locations, youngsters met he Easter Bunny at the end of the trail and had the opportunity for a photo. Those who completed all of the stops along the way then received a ticket for a very special egg hunt and a chance to win a Golden Egg Prize that was sponsored by the Folsom Athletic Association.
At 8 a.m. sharp, families began pouring into Lembi Park. From there the continuous flow of attendees kept the walkways and midway busy well past the 11 am hour. Several city dignitaries were on hand for the event, meeting and greeting guests and having fun with the community.
“I think some of the parents coming in are just as excited as the kids, “ said Tom Hellman, Recreation & Community Services Manager for the City of Folsom. “This is a really good turn out so far, by the time we’re done I’m sure we will be close to 2000 kids or so.”
