East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department's Annual Easter Egg Hunt: A Lot of Fun!

A strong overnight storm with torrential down-pours, howling winds, and some thunder and lightening mixed in, couldn't stop the Easter Bunny, with a little help from members of The East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department, from hiding the eggs for the annual Easter Egg Hunt this past Sunday.

And although the "Bunny Trail" was a bit rain-soaked, morning sunshine and gentle breezes made way for happy smiles and excited laughter, as children arrived and lined up, impatiently waiting for the signal to start the hunt.

The arrival of the Easter Bunny was cause for even more excitement, as he made his way through the crowds and along the long line of parents and their children, shaking hands and sharing hugs.

At noon Sunday a single blast of the air-horn from Ladder 7-15, the fire department's most recent addition to the town's fleet of firetrucks, signaled that the hunt was on!

Children, from toddlers to age 8, scrambled to find the brightly-colored eggs that were placed or hidden in the grassy fields across from Firehouse Company-2 on William F. Palmer Road in Moodus.

If you were among the lucky ones to find a specially marked egg, you could line up behind the 'Rescue- 1-15' firetruck to receive your prize, personally handed out by the Easter Bunny and volunteer firemen. The truck was loaded with plush bunnies and duckies of many sizes and colors, (104 prizes in all)  which were purchased for this event by the volunteer department's Firemans' Fund.

Mary Milewski and Richard Mason, who own  The Hillside Sweet Shoppe in the East Haddam village, brought their children to this yearly event for the very first time.

"It's a nice way to enjoy a Sunday, and the East Haddam Volunteer Fire Department did a great job! The kids had a fabulous time, and came back with big smiles on their faces!" said Milewski.

Members of the fire department spent about three hours at the firehouse prior to the event, cooking and coloring 180 dozen eggs.....that's 2,160 eggs!  It then took another 45 minutes or so to hide the eggs on the morning of the hunt.

Moodus resident Susan Prueher brought her two grandsons, Mason, age 4, and Maddox, age 5.

"This is the first year the boys have come for the egg hunt, and they had a great time! We look forward to coming back again next year," she said.

About 200 children attended the egg hunt this year.

"I'd like to thank everyone for coming, and thank all of the volunteers who worked to put this event together," said East Haddam Fire Chief Don Angersola. "I hope to see everyone back again next year, and would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter!"