No rain on parade

Only once in the previous 14 years has the massive Easter Egg Hunt at Huntington Beach Central Park been canceled by rain.

Coordinator Dottie Hughes was confident that at least several thousand participants would attend last Saturday’s event as planned, despite the forecast of rain falling Friday and into the morning of the big hunt.

It rained all day Friday, and a few ominous clouds early Saturday morning threatened to release more.

“I was very nervous at 6:15 a.m. when one big, dark cloud passed overhead,” said Hughes, the recreation supervisor for the City of Huntington Beach Community Services Department. “But, not a drop fell on us, and it passed us by. I was very happy at that moment.

“My motto is that, ‘it’s on until it’s off.’ We were only going to cancel it if it was raining.”

But it didn’t and, as the clouds passed on, arrivals began to trickle into the park by 9 a.m. As the morning progressed, the crowd grew larger, which Hughes estimated reached 5,000 during the day.

Children from infants to teenagers came out for the hunt ? sponsored by the Community Services Dept. and the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club ? which was divided by age groups. They came dressed as bunnies and in casual clothes, but all came armed and ready for the hunt with one essential: a fitting Easter basket.

Children with disabilities began the day’s hunt at 9:30 a.m., followed at 10 a.m. by toddlers 2 years and younger. Age groups 3-to-4, 5-to-6, and 7-to-8, went on the hunt every half hour between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.

The youngsters had plenty to select from, too, as 1,500-pounds of candy, rounded up by the Kiwanis through fundraisers was divided up and placed in the pit for each hunt.

“Just being around these kids and seeing the enjoyment they get from this is what makes this such a fun and rewarding event,” said Chris Gilissen, involved with the Kiwanis Club for more than 25 years.

“We were out here by 7 a.m., setting up and getting ready for the big crowd. We had a lot of candy to get ready. It’s been a lot of fun.”

As Jackson Pineda emerged from the end of one hunt, he beamed at the collection inside his basket as he sought his family.

What was the hunt all about to the 5-year-old, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and pants?

“Candy,” he said, unabashedly. “I love candy.”

Also in on hunts for the day were his two-year-old brother, Nicholas, sister Amanda, who turned four on Monday, and big brother, Thomas, 8.

Thomas seemingly had his radar tuned to finding one type of candy: Smarties. His basket was full of the colorful rolls of small, round treats.

“It was fun out there,” Thomas said. “I saw some of my friends from Little League and from school. Getting all the candy I could was a lot of fun.”

In addition to the hunt, the day featured game booths, face painting, the building of bunny ears ? a craft event coordinated by local student, Dustin Silverlake, picture-taking with the Easter bunny and live music provided by Shorelife Church in Huntington Beach. It also included representatives from the city and the city’s Fire, Police and Marine Safety departments.

The blueprint for the egg hunt has remained the same for 15 years, and Hughes said the formula works.

“It’s pretty successful the way it is,” she said. “The hunt is the main thing and we have other surrounding activities that make it a fun day in the park. It’s a great family event and the bottom line is that it’s for the children.”(LA)Stella Scott, 2, of Huntington Beach, receives an Easter candy from a hunt helper at Huntington Central Park. Stella was with her dad Shane. Parents and children rush into the fenced off area of Central Park searching for sweet treats. Above, Wyland Eisele, 1, picks up candy during the Easter Egg Hunt at Central Park. Wyland was with his parents Shauna and Greg, from Huntington. Below, Ryan Bailey (16 months) and sister Jacqueline (3 years old from HB) rest after the Easter Egg Hunt. hbi.20-easter-1-CPhotoInfoEO1Q39TM20060420ixxy0qnc(LA)Stella Scott, 2, of Huntington Beach, receives an Easter candy from a hunt helper at Huntington Central Park. Stella was with her dad Shane. PHOTOS BY DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / INDEPENDENThbi.20-easter-4-CPhotoInfoEO1Q39U120060420ixxy2sncZ(LA)Ryan Bailey, aged 16 months, and sister Jacqueline, 3, examine their candy haul. They were there with mom Christine. hbi.20-easter-3-CPhotoInfoEO1Q39TU20060420ixxy2encPHOTOS BY DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / INDEPENDENThbi.20-easter-2-CPhotoInfoEO1Q39TP20060420ixxy1fncPHOTOS BY DOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / INDEPENDENT