Happy Easter: Egg hunts and family fun

Chattanooga-area residents can commemorate Easter in ways secular and sacred. Here are some of the celebrations with kids in mind.

COMMUNITY EGG HUNTS

Friday, April 18

¦ Hamilton Family YMCA - 7430 Shallowford Road. Dynamic Church partners with the YMCA and The Salvation Army for its second Hunt To Can Hunger. Activities including photos with the Easter Bunny and a bouncy house start at 4:30 p.m. Hunts for 12,000 eggs begin at 5:30 p.m., with children divided by age groups (register in advance at HuntToCanHunger.com). The goal is to collect 2,000 pounds of nonperishable food, besting last year's 1,800 pounds. Nonperishable food items and monetary donations will be accepted on-site. The Salvation Army food pantry is especially low on canned meats and breakfast items (cereal, bars, grits, oatmeal). Food items will be accepted in advance at the Hamilton Family YMCA. Financial donations may be made online at HuntToCanHunger.com.

Saturday, April 19

¦ Church of the Highlands - 6621 Hunter Road, Harrison. Tens of thousands of candy-filled plastic eggs will be dropped by helicopter onto a grassy field for the hunt at 5:15 p.m. Activities from 4 to 6 p.m. include inflatables, carnival games, "Minute To Win It" games, food trucks and candy. Kids will be divided into age groups and must be ready for the egg hunt by 4:45 p.m. They will be allowed onto field after the helicopter has left the area. Only those who register online at http://thehighlands.ccc may hunt. Prize drawings for Nintendo 3DS XL, iPod Shuffle and two light-up skateboards will be held after 6 p.m. service.

¦ Heritage Pointe Baptist Church - 60 Dyer Bridge Place, Ringgold, Ga. Includes crafts, lunch and stories for children in fifth grade and younger, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

¦ East Ridge High School football field - 4320 Bennett Road. Jones Memorial United Methodist Church sponsors Easter EggStravaGanza for children in sixth grade or younger. Starts at 10 a.m. for babies to prekindergartners, 11 a.m. for kindergartners through sixth-graders. Event will be canceled in case of rain. www.jmumckids.com.

¦ James H. "Sloppy" Floyd State Park - 2800 Sloppy Floyd Lake Road, Summerville, Ga. Combined Earth Day and Spring Eggstravaganza celebration, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., opens with guided hikes, recycled crafts and wildlife presentations, adds an Easter egg hunt in the afternoon and finishes up with an evening campfire (skits, songs and marshmallows welcome). $5 parking. 706-857-0826.

¦ Oakwood Baptist Church - both campuses: 115 Oakwood St. in Chickamauga, Ga., and 3969 Cloud Springs Road in Ringgold, Ga. Speggtacular Saturday features music, skits, crafts and an egg hunt at 11 a.m.

¦ Ridgedale Baptist Church - 1831 Hickory Valley Road. Family Easter Celebration & Egg Hunt also includes telling of the Easter story, petting zoo and treat bags, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 423-499-0994.

¦ Silverdale Cumberland Presbyterian Church - 7407 Bonny Oaks Drive. The annual Easter egg hunt also includes a chance to dye some eggs, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 423-892-8710.

¦ Union Fork Baptist Church - 350 Lee Pike, Soddy-Daisy. Easter Egg hunt for kids up to sixth grade, with prizes and lunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 423-322-1173.

¦ White Oak Baptist Church - 310 Memorial Drive. Includes an egg hunt and short devotional on the reason for celebrating Easter, 2-4 p.m. 423-877-8551.

Sunday, April 20

¦ Coolidge Park - 200 River St. Stuart Heights Baptist Church presents its sixth annual Easter at Coolidge Park celebration starting at 9 a.m. with a hunt for more than 100,000 eggs for children up to age 11. Before, during and after the egg hunt, face painters and storytellers will provide entertainment and share the Gospel message with children. Free coffee and Julie Darling Donuts will be available at the welcome pavilion. An open-air worship service, including contemporary worship music and a message by Senior Pastor Gary Jared, follows from 10 to 11 a.m. Post-service picnics are welcome. Admission and parking are free. 423-877-2643.

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