Montezuma County children will have a chance to scour through Park Street in Cortez looking for Easter eggs filled with goodies.
The Rotary Club of Cortez will be accompanied by its honorary guest, the Easter bunny himself, while hosting its annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. March 30 at Veteran’s Park along Park Street, west of the outdoor pool.
The Easter egg hunt, which the club has hosted for over 60 years, will have different sections where children can hunt for eggs with other children in their age range.
“It’s been going on for over 60 years,” Easter egg hunt chair Joanne Teetzel said. “We’re talking several generations here. The current kids that do it probably had parents or grandparents who did.”
Children will be split into age brackets of 1 to 3 years old, 4 to 6, 7 through 9, plus 10 and older.
Eggs for all ages will be filled with candy. For children ages 4 and up, special eggs contain $1 coins, donated by sponsors Four Corners Community Bank, First Southwest Bank of Cortez, Dolores State Bank and Vectra Bank.
In total, 2,500 eggs will be hidden, and $250 worth of $1 coins will be distributed among the eggs.
Ages 1 through 3 will hunt near Montezuma Avenue, while children ages 4 and older will hunt in separate areas south along Park Street.
“When it first started, they were using real eggs that were boiled and decorate,” Teetzel said. “I would like to know who was behind that one.”
The Cortez Police will also provide a vehicle to sound a siren, launching the hunt. After the siren sounds, children will spend about 90 seconds searching for eggs, a news release from the Rotary Club said.
The Easter bunny will be available for photos near the outdoor pool fence.
Teetzel said they drop off eggs at the nursing homes, adding that residents and staff help fill the eggs.
Teetzel’s favorite part of the event is seeing the children have fun while participating, despite the busyness leading up to the hunt.
“It’s a lot of work and it’s like, ‘I’m never doing this again,’” Teetzel joked. “But then you see the kids enjoying (it) and they’re getting their picture taken with the Easter bunny, and it’s so cute. So, my favorite part is watching the kids enjoy it.”
For more information, contact Teetzel at 970-739-6453.
