Several egg hunts and other Easter-related activities will be held around southern Jefferson County this week. No admission will be charged for any of the events, but some may sell food and beverages.
First up will be an event at the Festus Public Library, 400 W. Main St., in Festus on Thursday, April 10, when the Easter bunny makes a visit from 10:30 a.m. to noon during Preschool Story Hour for children ages 2-6. The Easter bunny will return to the Festus Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday. During both visits, families may take photos of their children with the Easter bunny.
On Good Friday, April 18, the annual cross procession will be held in the Twin Cities.
The following three events will also be held on Saturday:
■ The Hillsboro Annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held at the Hillsboro R-3 School District’s Bridle Ridge Acres Farm along Business 21 in Hillsboro. The Hillsboro Lions Club, Leader Publications, Bridle Ridge Acres and the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce team up to put on the event.
A Hillsboro Fire Protection District firetruck will transport the Easter bunny to the festivities at 10:30 a.m. Photos may be taken with the Easter bunny both before and after the Easter egg hunts, which start at 11 a.m. The egg hunts will be divided into the follow age categories: 2 years old and younger; 3 to 4 years old; 5 to 6; and 7 to 10.
“The eggs have candy or a trinket in them,” Mandy Alley of the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce said. “There are about 25 per age group with a ticket for a special prize.”
Among the special prizes are large stuffed animals, Super Soaker water guns, books, learning toys, backpacks and art supplies.
Attendees also will have the chance to see animals at the farm.
As part of the event, the Hillsboro Lions Club will hold an Easter egg hunt at noon for youngsters who are visually impaired, as well as for youngsters who benefit from a sensory-friendly hunt. It is the second year for the special hunt. For more information about that hunt, visit hillsborolions.org.
Alley advises those planning to attend the event to leave plenty of time to park and get to the Bridle Ridge Acres Farm.
Parking will be available at nearby Hillsboro Primary School, 101 Leon Hall Parkway, and attendees are asked to walk to the farm through the field. A shuttle from the school to the activities at the farm will be available. Parking at the farm is limited to handicap parking.
For more information, contact the chamber at Hillsborochamberoffice@gmail.com.
■ Another Easter egg hunt will be held at First Christian Church of Hematite, 3711 Hwy. P, in Hematite. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to Easter egg hunts, the event will include a bounce house, photos with the Easter bunny, games and crafts and free barbecue. Call the church at 636-937-5273 for more information.
■ Sandy Creek Baptist Church, 9331 Sandy Church Road, in Hillsboro will hold a children’s Easter event. Registration begins at 10:45 a.m. for the event, which will run to 1 p.m. In addition to hunts for Easter eggs, crafts and games will be offered. For more information, call the church at 636-479-5422.
On April 19, the city of Pevely and the First Baptist Church of Herculaneum-Pevely will hold the Pevely Easter Egg Hunt at Pevely City Park, 60 Main St. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the hunts begin at 10:30 a.m.
The hunts are open to the public and will be divided into the following age groups: 1-2 years old, hunt at 10:30 a.m. 3-5, 10:40 a.m.; 6-8, 10:50 a.m.; 9-11, 11 a.m.
A total of 20,000 Easter eggs will be put out for the hunts, said Linda Miles, Pevely’s deputy city clerk.
“Every child who registers gets a ticket for a raffle drawing for prizes. The plastic Easter eggs strictly contain candy or little treats,” she said.
Miles said the event will include outdoor games, like cornhole. In addition, food and refreshment trucks will be on hand selling their wares.
For more information, call Pevely City Hall at 636-475-4452.
Cross processional
The Twin City Area Ministerial Alliance will hold its annual Good Friday Cross Processional at 1 p.m. April 18. The processional will begin at Grace Presbyterian Church, 105 Bailey Road, in Crystal City and end at First United Methodist Church, 113 Grand Ave., in Festus, with stops along the way for scripture readings and prayer.
The Rev. Leslie Limbaugh, the alliance president and pastor of Selma American Baptist Church south of Festus, said all are invited to participate in the religious experience.
“It’s a beautiful time for Christians from many denominations to worship together in body and spirit,” she said.
A new wrinkle will be added to the event this year, Limbaugh said.
“It usually takes about an hour (for the processional),” she said. “This year, we will invite people for additional prayer time through a labyrinth at First United Methodist Church. The labyrinth is space set up with a path, with a challenge to pray your way through the labyrinth. This will be new for the event.”
For more information, call 636-937-6515 or visit the Twin City Area Ministerial Alliance Facebook page.