Town enjoys a marvelous day for an egg hunt

Published:  03-27-2005

The annual Easter egg hunt at Alberta Banks Park has blossomed into a full-blown spring festival. A large crowd of children and parents gathered Saturday to hunt for eggs, hear live music and check out arts and crafts at the park.

"This is great for the community," said event co-chairwoman Charlotte Cornett, who estimated about 500 people had shown up by 11 a.m. "It's the biggest year we've had."

Tom Reed The Times

Savannah Whitmire, left, her sister, Sierra Whitmire, center, and Shiva Weck check how many Easter eggs they gathered Saturday at the Flowery Branch Spring Festival. About 8,000 eggs were up for grabs in hunts for four different age groups.

"We got lots of candy today," Melanie Peck of Oakwood said.

Peck brought her 3-year-old daughter, Allison, who stood beside her mother, smiling with two baskets of plastic eggs.

"This weather's just right today," said Stephan Gilstrap of Gainesville, as he watched his son, Blake, bounce around the Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course.

This year's event offered attractions for the whole family, including a band that played rock 'n' roll music from a park pavilion.

Robin Weaver of Flowery Branch bobbed her head to a rendition of Van Morrison's "Moondance" while sitting on a beach towel in the grass.

"I haven't heard this stuff in years," she said. "I'm glad they got something to entertain us parents."

Vendors spread out across the park, selling their wares and food. The Hall County Sheriff's Office sponsored an impaired driving course, which demonstrated the effects of driving while intoxicated.

Many other participants and volunteers helped bring the event together. "We couldn't have done it without everyone helping out," Cornett said.

"This is the third year, and it's been the best so far."

E-mail: freddy@gainesvilletimes.com

By FRANK REDDY
The Times

Originally published Sunday, March 27, 2005