Events will have kids scrambling

Easter activities to feature egg hunts, decorating contests

View File photoVenues across the valley are planning Easter egg hunts and other activities this weekend to celebrate the holiday and the arrival of spring. Advertisement

Holidays can be complicated.

Each family embraces a unique tradition from Christmas to Easter. It may be attending church services, hosting a big dinner or hitting the town in search of holiday fun.

With Easter mere days away, Las Vegas families are making plans and creating itineraries for celebration.

EASTER CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., will host the fourth annual Easter Cultural Festival from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Among the celebration's spring-themed activities will be an egg decorating contest where both parents and tots can submit a decorated egg for judging.

"It's interesting to see what people come up with," cultural center coordinator Bobbie Ann Howell said. "We predict that it will be a family favorite."

The contest will include categories for most creative, artistic and festive, with prizes to be awarded after judging.

"Anyone is welcome to participate," Howell said. "You don't have to be an artist. Children, of course, should participate. It's not an art contest. It's for fun."

The festivities will include raffles, face painting, a visit from the Easter Bunny and live performances featuring the center's youth groups, including a guitar group, Rondall.

"These are all cultural dance and musical performances we're having," Howell said. "I believe that there will even be a poetry reading. The cool thing is that each of our performers are kids who have taken classes on that subject here at the center. Now they get the opportunity to perform in a festival. I know for a fact that that excites a lot of our kids."

According to Howell, more than 800 residents turned out for last year's celebration, and community center staffers project an increase in attendance this year.

"It's our spring presentation," Howell said. "It's a fabulous way to spend an afternoon celebrating the holiday."

Admission is free. For more information, call 229-1515.

LAKE LAS VEGAS

The Easter Celebration at MonteLago Village, 30 Strada Di Villaggio, will feature a day of egg hunting on the village lawn, where children can seek out more than 25,000 eggs.

"The egg hunts are massive," events manager Leslie Barr said. "Each year, thousands of kids show up. That's why we host more than one. We try to accommodate every child that comes for the fun."

Hunts will be held Sunday at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Registration is required one hour prior. The cost is $3 per child.

"Just come to the bottom of the grand staircase and sign up," Barr said. "We have to keep track of how many kids participate to ensure that each child has an optimal experience."

The celebration also will feature a petting zoo, pony rides, magicians, face painters, brunch specials, a disc jockey, raffles, gift baskets and a cameo appearance from Peter Cottontail.

"What we offer is very different from the traditional Vegas," Barr said. "People can enjoy the waterfront view on Easter as egg hunts happen on the adjacent lawn."

According to Barr, the event gets bigger and better every year, a reality she doesn't find all that surprising.

"It's nice to be outside on Easter with your kids," Barr said. "Enjoy the great weather, and you can really start to feel that spring has arrived."

For more information, call 564-4700.