The Town of Irricana is preparing to host its popular Easter egg hunt, an annual event hosted in partnership with local groups and organizations at the Irricana Lion’s Community Hall, on April 1.
The all-ages and family-friendly event will feature two events in one this year, according to Brook Swanson, FCSS and community service coordinator for the Town of Irricana.
The first portion of the event is slated to be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will feature a large Easter egg hunt outside of the community hall.
“[The hunt] is always tons of fun for the kids and the adults to run around and gather eggs,” Swanson told the Rocky View Weekly. “Then right after that, inside the hall, we will have an assortment of activities for kids and families to participate in with our local organizations.”
The second portion of the event, held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., will feature a community family connection dance. New to this year’s event, the dance will be hosted by Closer to Home Community Services, and sponsored by the Irricana and Beiseker FCSS.
“We have a DJ coming in and we’ll have hot dogs and refreshments,” Swanson said. “It’s just a really, really great way to engage the community and have a little bit more fun that afternoon.”
She shared the event has been going on for quite a few years, and over time, has been adapted to include collaborations with various local organizations.
This year, the event is a collaboration between the Village of Beiseker, Town of Irricana, and FCSS organizations in both of those communities, along with a wide assortment of other local organizations.
“Those local organizations will be having resource tables at the events, activities for the kids to participate in... it’s really a community endeavour, which is fantastic,” Swanson shared.
Last year, the event boasted 179 people in attendance, and this year, the event organizers are hoping to meet or exceed those numbers.
“It’s really about fostering community spirit and engagement and what we feel is really important is that collaboration of communities,” Swanson explained. “Not just Beiseker or not just Irricana, but other local communities and visitors that come into Irricana.”
The event coordinator said for her, the event is all about connecting neighbours and connecting people to places and spaces in Beiseker and Irricana.
“There’s great things that happen in Beiseker and Irricana and this is one event out of many that is an opportunity to come together as a community,” she said.
She added the festivities will carry on rain or shine, and no registration is required to attend – participants can drop in at their leisure. Though, she said the Easter egg hunt will start at 10 a.m. sharp.
“So, if people are a little late, they might miss that portion of the event because it will be outdoor chaos but lots of fun,” she shared. “We will have an Easter bunny leading the way, so it’ll be really great.
“We hope everyone can come out and enjoy, and we’re hoping for a wonderful day.”
She added there are plenty of community volunteers who will be participating in the event to help make it a success. She said the volunteerism of the event is key to its popularity and is an important element that is worthy of recognition.
“That’s another element of this event that’s so important that sometimes goes unnoticed is all the people in the community behind the scenes that are making this happen,” she shared. “Whether it’s community volunteers or our wide assortment of local organizations participating.”
Swanson added it is a fun event that will be a great opportunity for people in the community and outside the area to get together and celebrate their communities.
“[They can] just have some fun and enjoy time with their families and learn about local organizations and groups,” she said. “I think the really great thing is it gives the opportunity to share some resources and information that might be really valuable to families and individuals in our community.”
