Big eggs. Small eggs. Plastic eggs. “Gold”‘ eggs. Real eggs.
It’s going be downright eggy this weekend across the North Olympic Peninsula.
To celebrate one of the most important dates on the Christian calendar, several organizations are holding Easter egg hunts from Port Townsend to Lake Quinault and everywhere in between.
Kids usually love Easter egg hunts.
But why eggs?
It turns out that the tradition of eggs — an old symbol of fertility — predates the Christian era.
In Persia and Egypt, for example, eggs were eaten and decorated for spring holidays, according to Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
The tradition of eggs and spring indeed go back a long way.
Following is a list of Easter egg hunts carrying on the tradition in our local communities.
(If your Easter egg hunt or event, which has to be open to the public, is not included, please contact Managing Editor Dean Rhodes at 360-417-3531 or dean.rhodes@peninsuladailynews.com today for inclusion when the list is repeated on Friday.)
Lake Quinault, Kalaloch
Lake Quinault Lodge will hold a two-day Easter Extravaganza with family activities including Easter games, Easter egg coloring and an Easter egg hunt on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, Kalaloch Lodge also will be celebrating Easter with an egg hunt on Sunday.
At Lake Quinault Lodge, the egg hunt will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday with egg coloring following from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
At Kalaloch Lodge, the Easter egg hunt will start at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Lake Quinault Lodge is at 345 S. Shore Road, Quinault, and can be reached at 800-562-6672 or www.visitlakequinault.com.
Kalaloch Lodge is at 157151 U.S. Highway 101, Forks, and can be reached at 866-525-2563 or www.visitkalaloch.com.
Sequim
The Ladies of the Elks Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road.
The egg hunt is designed for children 10 and younger. There will be prizes and refreshments for participants.
Port Townsend
The annual Easter egg hunt, sponsored by Port Townsend Elks Lodge No. 317, will be held at 7 a.m. Sunday at Chetzomoka Park, 900 Jackson St.
The egg hunt has been a community event since 1931.
Three separate age groups will search for golden or silver eggs, worth $2 and $1 respectively, as well as numerous baskets and small prizes. Eggs will be hidden by Boy Scout Troop 479.
Coffee will be provided for adults accompanying egg hunters.
Also, the 21st annual Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post No. 26 Easter egg hunt is at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Legion Park on Discovery Road, just off Mill Road at the Port Townsend city limit.
Children 12 and younger will be divided into several age groups, with lots of prizes awarded.
Weather permitting, there will be music.
Clallam Bay
The annual Easter egg hunt sponsored by the West End Youth and Community Club will be held at Clallam Bay School at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Children up to 12 years of age are welcome. Hunters should bring their own basket or sack.
For more information, call 360-963-2854 or 360-963-2438.
Forks
An Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tillicum Park ball fields on U.S. Highway 101.
Hunters will be broken into separate age groups — 3 years and younger; 4 to 8 years of age; and 9 to 12 years of age.
Prizes will include gift certificates, chocolate bunnies, stuffed bunnies and more.
For more information, call Bruce Guckenberg at 360-374-5075 or Pat Soderlind at 360-374-5412.
Port Angeles
KONP’s annual Easter egg hunt has been canceled because of work on the hunt’s usual location, Shane Park.
However, First United Methodist and Congregational Church, at the corner of Seventh and Laurel streets, will hold an Easter Block Party from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
There will be prizes, a cake walk, Easter egg coloring and games, in addition to a bouncing room, music, gifts and crafts, and refreshments.
Quilcene-Brinnon
The Quilcene Lions Club annual Easter egg hunt starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Quilcene Community Park, next to the community center.
Children ages 12 and younger can hunt for eggs, candy and prize eggs within areas set aside for each of three age divisions.
The Brinnon Community Easter Egg Hunt for children 11 and younger will start at 1 p.m. Saturday at Brinnon School.