Go, go, go! Easter egg hunt returns to Randolph after two-year hiatus

RANDOLPH – About 80 preschool students lined up at Belcher Park on Saturday, each holding a basket in their hands.

When Elizabeth Ann LaRosee, the community program director of the town, yelled "Go!" – they were off in search of colorful Easter eggs.

Will Harlow, of Randolph, 4, said he was excited about the egg hunt.

"I'm gonna find the eggs," he said. "I want to find the colored ones!"

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The Randolph Bunny Egg Hunt has been a tradition for more than a decade. LaRosee said about 200 children signed up, to hunt for the 3,000 Easter eggs.

Nikite Mora, 4, and Aecsa Mora, 3, of Randolph, came to the egg hunt for the first time. .

All of the eggs contained candy, but there were three golden eggs that included a prize of free tuition to a Randolph recreation summer camp. There were also three eggs with a goldcoin, which awarded to the findersan Easter basket with a coloring book, toys and even more candy.

"They did a great job bringing the event back after COVID," said Desiree Mora, Nikite and Aesca's mom.

The egg hunt did not take place for the past two years due to the pandemic. The town instead sent the Easter Bunny to children's homes and held egg hunts in their yards.

Stacy Harlow, Will's mother said his son loved the bunny coming to their house, even though this year's event allowed him to play around with other children.

"He has more freedom here," she said. "Everyone here is so nice."

The town had a parade as a replacement for the egg hunt last year, which also returned this year. The Easter Bunny rode around the town followed by firefighters and police officers.

Josh Hunt, a police officer, wore a pink bunny costume with two long and pointy ears to the event. Children greeted him warmly, and he said people waved at him over their balconies during the parade.

"I love it," he said.

Brian Howard, Randolph town manager, said children hunted for eggs on playground built to commemorate Sgt. Dennis “DJ” Simmonds, a Boston police officer from Randolph who died in the Watertown shootout while attempting to apprehend the Boston Marathon bombers.

"Yesterday was the anniversary of the bombing," Howard said Saturday. "Today, there are children enjoying themselves here. It is what the (Simmonds)] family wanted."

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Reach Hongyu Liu at HLiu@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Randolph families hunt thousands of Easter eggs as annual hunt returns