Pleasant Grove, Lehi won't hold Easter egg hunts this year

LEHI — Two Utah County cities aren't following their Easter egg hunt traditions this year.

In Pleasant Grove, the annual egg hunt has disappeared, and business leaders in Lehi are breaking with tradition and launching an Easter Festival rather than host the long-standing Easter egg hunt.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles, Lodge 3372, usually sponsors Pleasant Grove's Easter egg hunt. But this year, the field at Manila Park-Discovery Park, where it's usually held, wasn't reserved for the children's event, said recreation manager Jay Dee Nelson.

The recreation department office manager called the folks usually in charge but did not receive an answer, Nelson said.

"Usually they're pretty good about letting us know," he said.

As for the Lehi event, organizers say the well-attended hunts at Wines Park have become chaotic.

"It was over in 10 seconds — all that work for naught," said organizer Heather Miller of the Lehi Chamber of Commerce.

Also, Miller said, the event wasn't promoting local businesses in a way that meets the chamber commitment.

The new Easter Festival on April 6 at the city's Legacy Center from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. is designed to do that while also giving families a positive experience with games, booths and frequent door prizes from merchants, said Kris Belcher, chairman of the board of directors.

Every child should go home with something, which wasn't always the case with the Easter egg hunts, she said.

Tickets are $5 each purchased in advance or $6 at the door. Tickets for a family of six are $25 and are available at the Legacy Center, 123 N. Center; LaVilla Salon, 155 W. Main, and Utah Community Credit Union, 1364 N. Commerce Drive, Saratoga Springs.

Admission covers the meal, booths and all activities.

Thanksgiving Point continues to have its Easter egg hunt, which was competing with the Lehi chamber's hunt. That hunt is April 7.

The Thanksgiving Point hunt, Eggs Eggstreme, will begin at 9 a.m. at Electric Park and Farm Country. Activities will include wagon and pony rides, ring toss, fish pond, Easter crafts, balloon tying, inflatable rides, relay races and a kiddie cow train, said John Whitaker, director of public events.

Each child will get a plastic egg with a prize in it for every activity done. Tickets are $5 each in advance and $6 at the door. Admission covers five events and the egg hunt. Tickets are available at Thanksgiving Point venues.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com