Jaycees team up with famous rabbit to hunt down Easter fun

It takes 75 volunteers eight hours to cook and dye the 30,000 brightly colored eggs. It takes another two hours for the Easter Bunny to scatter them on Governors Field.

Then at 1 p.m. Sunday, about 3,000 children will clear the field in a matter of minutes.

For the last 29 years, the Carson City Jaycees have teamed up with the Easter Bunny for the annual Easter Egg Hunt.

"The kids just hit the field running and try to get to every egg they can," said Lori Urbani Brown, Carson City Jaycees secretary.

The hunt is broken into groups of various ages, including: 0-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10 and above. Each group has a grand prize and several medium and small prizes.

There is no age limit to participate, and parents are allowed on the field to help with children ages 5 and younger. There is also an egg hunt for special-needs children on the field at 11 a.m.

"The only requirement is that you be alive. We are not going to tell people they can't go pick up an egg or two," Jaycees President Wendy Tims said. "We've had people in their 50s wanting to participate."

The group uses community sponsors and donations to fund the event, traditionally the group's largest.

Earlier this month, the Jaycees raised $1,575 by dressing up in bunny costumes and soliciting donations from patrons at several local restaurants and bars. That money will be used to defray the more than $1,000 needed to purchase the eggs.

Brown said that despite the amount of effort it takes, it is always worth it.

"It's a lot of work up front, but seeing their faces when they find a prize egg, it's pure joy," Brown said.

Tims said the best advice for first-time participants is to get there early, bring a large basket, and go for a variety of colors.

"You never know what color the prize eggs will be, so just get out there and take a chance," Tims said.

The organizers said they enjoy doing something to give back.

"I love doing something completely free for the community with no strings attached," Tims said. "But without them, we wouldn't be able to do this at all."

In addition to the hunt, the Easter Bunny and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand.

• Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

Easter Egg Hunts

• Carson City Jaycees 30th annual Easter Egg Hunt. Special-needs children hunt at 11 a.m., general hunt begins at 1 p.m. Sunday at Governors Field. Call 883-8782 for information.

• The Great Virginia City Easter Egg Hunt is from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Miner's Park, in Virginia City. For children up to age 10. For information call 847-0311.

• Silver City Easter events begin at 3 p.m. Sunday with a potluck at the Fire House, on High Street, followed by an Easter Parade to the park for the Easter Egg hunt. For information call 847-7029.

Silver City will start with egg decorating at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the fire house.

• The annual Carson Valley 20-30 Easter Egg hunt will be 1 p.m. Sunday at Lampe Park. The nonprofit organization is seeking donations of hard-boiled eggs or cash to offset the event's cost. Call Tom Kerley at 690-2435.

• The Easter Egg hunt at Johnson Lane Park hosted by the Johnson Lane Fire Department begins at 9 a.m. Sunday. The park is on Stephanie Way just east of the fire station.

• Spring Eggstravaganza Family Celebration in Incline Village from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at Incline Beach on Lakeside Drive. For children up to age 10. For information call 832-1301.

• Easter Egg Hunt at Peccole Park in Reno. Meet at 12:10 p.m. Saturday behind the stands along the first base line for a chance to hunt for eggs on the field before the game. Open to children eighth grade and under. University of Nevada baseball team will take on Hawaii at 1 p.m.