Hippity hoppity Easter is most certainly on its way. Luckily for the children of Lake Forest, Peter Cottontail himself will make his annual appearance in one of Lake Forest's wonderful parks. This year, Mr. Cottontail has decided to celebrate in the newly renovated . He has plenty of jumping-good fun planned for Saturday, April 16, at the city's annual Bunny Blast.
The Bunny Blast takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., but be sure to arrive early because the first 1,200 children will get to enjoy the "Egg Wonderland" where kids have the opportunity to collect six different prizes, said Recreation Coordinator Ron Rivera.
There will be four egg scrambles—or hunts—throughout the day, broken up into different age categories. At 11:30, 2- and 3- year olds get their chance to hunt with the help of mom and dad, at noon it's the the 4- and 5- year olds chance to scramble for eggs, 12:30 is the time slot for 5- and 6- year olds, while the 7- and 8- year olds wrap things up at 1 p.m.
Besides the hunt, there will be plenty of activities for kids to enjoy: carnival games, a ferris wheel, pony rides, a train ride, face painting and a petting zoo, each for a small fee. Kids can also enjoy making spring-themed crafts and watching a magician perform tricks.
Many characters will be making special appearances at the Bunny Blast. Alice and her arch nemesis, the Queen of Hearts, will be on site as well as Nectar, the city of Lake Forest's official mascot, who will be dressed as the Mad Hatter. A Mardi Gras band will march through the midway and passing out beads to smiling faces. Hoppy the Spring Bunny will be available to pose for pictures and say hello to guests throughout the event.
No need to pack a lunch because local groups and businesses will be at the park with plenty of food for purchase. The Kiwanis of Lake Forest is fundraising by cooking up savory barbecue favorites. Frosting's Cupcakes will be serving their trademark tasty treats, and an ice cream trucks will be on site with plenty of cones for everyone.
Be prepared to park in the neighborhood surrounding El Toro Park because the lot will likely fill up. Your best bet is to plan to arrive early so you can fully enjoy all that the Bunny Blast has to offer. My family and I have plans to attend, so we hope to see you there!
