PRESCOTT - Depending on the weather this weekend, as many as 5,000 kids could converge on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza for the community’s annual Easter egg hunt and Egg-Stravaganza.

Prescott Special Events Coordinator Becky Garvin reports that the city will conduct its 11th annual Egg-Stravaganza from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 3, at the Courthouse Plaza.

While last year’s snow, rain and sleet kept the numbers down to about 1,000, Garvin said previous Easter egg hunts have attracted upwards of 4,000 participants.

“This year, I’m preparing for the larger crowd,” Garvin said. “I think it’s going to be great weather.”

New this year will be special prizes and gift certificates that some of the eggs will come with. When children turn in their collected eggs in exchange for candy, Garvin said, some of the eggs will have markings that indicate a winner.

“We try to make it larger every year,” Garvin said of the event, which includes multiple egg-hunt opportunities, along with crafts, inflatables, and carnival games, face painting, and a balloon artist.

To add to the fun, about 30 downtown businesses will participate by handing out prizes to participating children.

While the egg hunt is free to the public, those who want to participate in the other events will pay a $5 fee, which will cover items such as a backpack, toys, stuffed animals and other prizes from the participating businesses. The participating children will get an Easter backpack, which they will be able to fill with the prizes.

In addition, the $5 cost includes activities such as inflatables, train rides, and carnival games.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will once again help conduct the free Easter egg hunt on the plaza, in coordination with the city’s Egg-Stravaganza.

Garvin said about 30 fraternity members regularly help distribute plastic eggs on the plaza.

Those who want to participate in just the egg hunt should bring their own baskets, Garvin said. They also can pay a per-ride rate of $1 per ride.

The event includes:

• Two rounds of egg hunts - at 11:30 and 1:30. Age groups include up-to-5; 6-to-8; 9-to-12; and 13 and older.

• Easter backpack to decorate.

• Games such as an egg toss, hula-hooping, and sack races.

Along with the scheduled events, Garvin said a photographer will be on hand at the plaza bandstand to take photos with the Easter bunny, offering packages for $5 and $10. In addition, a roaming rabbit will be circulating on the plaza.

The event will cost the city about $5,000, some of which the $5 fees help to offset.

“We want to give our community a family-fun event that’s affordable,” Garvin said. “It helps our local businesses, and lets people know what’s in the community.”

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