Maddy, Lincoln and Kennedy Yaj, all Westside Elementary School students, were excited about the festivities.

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - The Eggstravaganza, put on by the Rio Linda Parks and Recreation Department, truly lived up to its name as some 150 youth scrambled (pun intended) to collect their oval prizes hidden at Babe Best Park last Sunday afternoon.

 Young Easter egg gatherers are ready to find their treasures.

Festive Easter-themed craft bags were also provided for the young gatherers by Life Point Church.

The Easter egg hunt, whose details were masterminded by coordinator Yanni Lagge, was originally scheduled for last Saturday at the park behind Rio Linda’s Community Center. However, because of Saturday’s rain, Lagge moved the hunt to the following afternoon.

This is the third year that Lagge has staged the festivities and “the first one we’ve had to move locations and the date due to the weather.”

The old-fashioned ritual had many of the traditional trappings, including an Easter bunny, the costume cheerily sported by 17-year-old Rio Linda High junior Joshua Ross. Ross volunteered his time as a bunny.

At 6’2,” Ross filled out the white furry suit that reached close to seven feet high. Behind the costume, Ross proved to be a gentle giant, naturally attracting the attention of numerous children who posed with him for photos.

Accompanying Ross were eight additional volunteers from the Rio Linda High School’s Key Club. Among the student volunteers was Rianna Guardado, taking a brief pause from her extremely busy senior year. Guardado will attend the University of Nevada at Reno, where she plans to major in veterinary science.

 Rio Linda High School sophomore Jessica Lopes, 15, cheerfully volunteers for egg duty with the school's Key Club.

The Key Club is sponsored by Rio Linda Kiwanis and club advisor John Perryman, a retired teacher, was there to supervise the high schoolers. But these highly responsible and respectful students needed little supervising as the event ran from noon to 2:30 p.m. without a hitch. Clearly, there was no egg on anybody’s face!

In fact, there were no actual eggs at all. The Easter eggs were colorful plastic shells filled with candy. Many youths brought their own buckets and baskets for the occasion. Treats were limited to a dozen per child, with 3,000 plastic eggs scattered through the outfield of the two main Little League diamonds, soon to be snatched up by eager little fingers.

For safety reasons, there were two groups during the hunt: one for ages 7 and up and the other for tots up to 6 years old.

Rio Linda residents rejoiced in the early spring event, enhanced by sunny conditions between the high 50s and low 60s. Mild temperatures inspired a variety of attire. While some children trotted and gathered in shorts and tees, long pants and sweatshirts were mainly seen.

A smattering of children was adorned more formally. Some little girls sported festive sundresses matching the colors of the plastic eggs. In addition, one young gentleman, eight-year-old Cruz Flores, an Orchard School second-grader, was truly dashing in a seasonal cream-colored suit.    

All ages seemed to have a great time at the Eggstravaganza, best summed up by Eric Moreno, who brought his 9-year-old daughter, Emelie, and 10-year-old son, Brian, both Orchard Elementary School students.

“The families appreciate the time and effort,” Moreno said. “It was thoughtfully put together with truly kind people.”

 Besties Abigail Tiner and Alora Conway, both 8-year-old Orchard Elementary School third-graders, are delighted with the Eggstravaganza.