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Easter Fun Day packs ‘em in for Penticton child and youth development centre

It’s expected record numbers of people turned up for the ninth annual Easter Fun Day

They came by the hundreds, armed with baskets to collect the eggs scattered throughout.

According to Diana Stirling, owner of LocoLanding Adventure Park, which hosted the annual Easter Fun Day Monday in support of the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre, this was the best turnout in the event’s nine-year history.

“It’s absolutely unbelievable, fantastic,” said Stirling as she watched the registration line up continue to grow well after the fun began at 11 a.m. with the arrival of the Easter Bunny aboard a Penticton Fire Department truck. “I think we’re probably going to be seeing 1,500 people here today.”

The attendance was so unexpected that just 20 minutes in she was already trying to find another 5,000 plastic eggs somewhere in the city, on top of the 10,000 eggs she already had, to carry through until the 1 p.m. finish.

In addition to the small field adjacent to LocoLanding, there was also a hunt at the SS Sicamous.

Along with the hunts, there were also a number of special events set up including face painting, making rabbit ears and games including a bean bag toss and a (hard boiled) egg balancing on a spoon course.

While the final figures were still being tabulated it’s expected the money raised from the $5 admission charge, as well as the funds from the park’s attractions, will also be a near-record amount.

READ ALSO: Penticton adventure park hosting Easter Fun Day and Egg Hunt

All of which monies go to the OSNS efforts to help kids.

“We help children of all levels, mostly young children who are struggling with, speech, motor skills also have daycare and preschool our centre is really the hub of child development,” said Meg Dimma, OSNS community engagement co-ordinator. “But I believe one of the most important aspects of this event is that it’s important for every family and every child.”

READ ALSO: Easter egg hunters rejoice

Stirling also had praise for the many local businesses that stepped up to the plate to help out in one way or another as well as the record number of youth volunteers, 75, that helped in preparation for and on the day of the event.


 

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Meg Dimma (left) and executive director Manisha Willms of the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre and the long line of registrants. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Some of the hundreds of kids racing to collect their eggs during the annual Easter Fun Day Monday. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Excited Easter egg hunters were released in waves to collect their 10 eggs. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Gianna Gould, 5, looks ahead to the next treasure as she snatches an egg from the ground. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Carolyn Matheson helps her two-year-old granddaughter Sadie Grace with some bubble-blowing fun. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Yuzuki Onishi, 6, trys her hand on the egg balancing course. (Mark Brett - Western News)
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Proceeds from the fun activities at LocoLanding during the day also went to the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre. (Mark Brett -Western News)
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Three-year-old Victoria Edge balances an egg on a spoon during one of the fun events. (Mark Brett - Western News)