Gurnee Bunny Bash attracts hundreds of egg hunters; ‘It's a nice way to start Easter off together'
The Gurnee Park District's Bunny Bash on Saturday drew children and their families to Viking Park for one of three morning sessions that featured Mr. Bunny and lots and lots of plastic eggs filled with treats.
Mr. Bunny posed for photos on a garden bench outside with a backdrop of yellow daffodils in vibrant bloom.
'We're looking at about 1,000 items, some being surprises to find in eggs and others scattered throughout the six egg hunts,' said Deanna Angelini Johann, the Park District's marketing and public relations manager.
Returning to oversee the event with the help of more than 20 teen volunteers — many of them Lake County high school students — was Mary Lester, the district's supervisor of community programs and events. The event was sponsored by BCU.
'It's so much fun,' Lester said, adding that the three staggered event times drew a combined attendance of approximately 360 people.
For 2025, Lester said she is looking forward to summer when the Park District will have 'new events coming out. We have a concert series, neighborhood nights, all kinds of fun things.'
Volunteer Daniela Bernal, 18, of Gurnee, and a Warren Township High School senior, held a tall pink bunny sign with a number on it to help lead her group to the outside egg hunt, where the plush Mr. Bunny greeted families.
Being a volunteer, 'brings a lot to the community,' Bernal said. 'You get to experience different cultures. You get to be with the kids, which is really fun.'
For Andy and Lisa Cerney of Winthrop Harbor, Saturday was the first organized community egg hunt for their daughter, Madison, 4.
'We wanted her to have an Easter egg hunt,' Lisa Cerney said. 'She's never been on a big group Easter egg hunt, it's always been just our house.'
Taylor Sares of Vernon Hills brought children Leah, 2, and Wyatt, 5 months. The children's grandmother Gigi Skala of Lincolnshire was seen holding Wyatt, while Leah pursued craft activities in a mirrored dance room with her mother Taylor.
'It's all about the community, and just getting the kids out to do active things,' Taylor Sares said.
Ken Gallivan of Gurnee brought daughters Eleanor, 5, and Penelope, 7. Both girls eagerly took part in the egg hunt. Eleanor likes purple eggs, while Penelope said she prefers teal as an egg color.
Round Lake father Antonio Mejia had pink bunny ears placed as a headband by daughter Ava, 6. He said he was there, 'to see her smile.'
The Russell siblings from Gurnee, Tyler, 7, and Sophia, 4, had the buffet breakfast with their parents Drew and Elizabeth before the egg hunt. Both siblings had bunny ear headbands. Sophia wore pink, and Drew wore blue festive rabbit ears.
'We love coming out to this event,' Elizabeth Russell said. 'We've come every year since they've been little. It's a nice way to start Easter off together.'
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