Hundreds of children accompanied by their parents got a head start on their Easter celebration Saturday when they took part in this year’s Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza at South Park.

Thousands of colored plastic eggs scattered around the park beckoned the egg hunters, whose mission was to find five eggs of a different color.

The Easter Bunny helps twins, from left, Liliana and Ella Keathley, both 4-year-olds from Lawrence, keep warm Saturday during the Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza at South Park, which was sponsored by the city's Parks and Recreation Department and Hy-Vee Food Stores.

“I think it took them about 15 minutes,” Becky Cooper, of Lawrence, said of the hunt by her son, Bryan, 6, and daughter, Victoria, 2.

“I think they got more than their share,” Becky’s husband, Jed Cooper, added as he held his daughter. “This was their first time here.”

Elsewhere in the park, Niels Braaten, 3, finished his egg hunt while his father cheered him on.

Parks and Recreation workers Josh Lorenzo, left, and Baba Diallo spread eggs at South Park for Saturday's hunt.

“He’s doing a great job,” said David Braaten, Lawrence.

After collecting the eggs, the children turned them in for a “bag of goodies,” which contained candy and small toys donated by Hy-Vee Food Stores. Then they stood in line to get their pictures taken in the gazebo with the Easter Bunny.

The Eggstravaganza is organized each year by the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department. Last year more than 800 children took part in the egg hunt. Many more appeared to have taken part this year, said Duane Peterson, special events supervisor for the parks department.

Still, Peterson wasn’t worried about running out of eggs. About 6,000 eggs were placed around the park by employees or held in reserve, he said.

Tiffany Darr,2, left, of Lawrence, gets her fill of Easter Eggs.

“This is a big family event,” Peterson said. “It’s a great opportunity for parents to interact with their children.”

Other egg hunts Saturday were at LakeView Manor, 3015 W. 31st St., and on the Baker University campus in Baldwin.

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