Rocky View County residents can mark their calendars with all the community Easter activities happening across the region this week.
After two years of COVID-19 restrictions impacting holiday events, Easter event organizers are beyond excited to host egg hunts and enjoy a day out with local families again.
Langdon Easter hunt
In the hamlet of Langdon, the annual Family Easter Hunt has been happening every April for 10 years.
While it looked a little different in 2020 and 2021, organizers adapted to keep the tradition alive.
“We're going back to the way we used to have it, which is fantastic,” said organizer Launa Austin. “There will be two Easter hunts at Langdon Park on Saturday April 16. Two hunts because we have a toddler hunt and after that we have a kids hunt.”
Kids will be roaming through Langdon Park to find the hidden Easter eggs.
Austin said the great thing about having two separate hunts is that younger kids will have their time to shine before the older kids – who can run a little farther and faster – get to have their fun.
Last year, the event was socially distanced, taking place across five different fields and within different time frames. In 2020, Easter bags were hand-delivered to each registered kid in the community.
“It's just a great annual community event that people really look forward to and we're in a position now that there's enough community support through local business and practices that it's a free event that kids can go to and have a good time,” Austin said.
The hunt takes place at the Langdon Park Fieldhouse on April 16. The first race starts at 10:30 a.m., while the second race will follow soon afterwards. No registration is necessary and bags to collect Easter eggs are provided for the kids.
“Anyone can come and it's a rain or shine event,” Austin said. “We've dealt with everything.”
Crossfield Easter Extravaganza
The Town of Crossfield is bringing back its annual Easter Extravaganza event.
“This event is for all families, but I think young children will find the most enjoyment out of it,” said organizer Eris Latham.
Instead of taking place at the Crossfield and District Community Centre, the event will be hosted at the Crossfield Community Curling Club this year.
Kids will have a chance to see and pet their favourite farm animals outside as Butterfield Acres will be set up with a travelling corral and petting zoo. Inside the building, kids can also participate in inflatable bowling. Popcorn and other treats will be available, as well as raffle prizes.
“It's been a pretty quiet couple of years on the event side and people are really looking forward to getting back out without masks and without having to worry about distancing,” Latham said. “We've had a lot of residents move to Crossfield in the last couple of years and I know it's probably been quite hard for them to integrate into the community, just with the events of the world.”
Latham hopes this event draws in those new residents as well as the ones that have been part of the community for many years.
Easter activities will be ongoing in the Crossfield community throughout the week of spring break to keep kids entertained on their days off school.
Spring break activities include a trip to the Olds aquatic centre on April 20 for kids ages nine and up, followed by a pizza lunch, and a trip to the Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park on April 21 for kids aged eight and up. Both those trips require registrations through the Town of Crossfield.
On April 22, kids can attend a showing of Peter Rabbit 2 at Crossfield’s community centre for free with no registration required.
Irricana Library
Another event in north Rocky View County includes an Easter Egg Hunt in Irricana on April 16 at 10 a.m. The hunt will take place at the Irricana Community Hall, with additional activities to follow at the hall and the Irricana Library.
Giant games of bean bag toss and Jenga are expected at the hall, while the library will have a giant game of snakes and ladders, lego kits, candy sushi, and a spring craft set up for kids.
At 12:30 p.m., the library will be hosting an in-person story-time.
Other events
For those who missed the Easter Egg Hunt in Chestermere on April 9, there’s still a chance to scramble together some eggs with the Camp Chestermere “Easter Egg My Yard” event. The initiative will help families set up their own Easter egg hunt at home on April 15. Registration closes on April 13 at noon.
Cochrane will also have ongoing Easter activities, including an Easter pop-up market at Frank Wills Memorial Hall on April 16, as well as an Easter weekend with the wolfdogs, including an Easter Egg Hunt at 11:30 am, an Easter Egg Eggstravaganza, and more.
