FRACKVILLE - Easter egg hunts evoke the speed of sprint races, such those at the Schuylkill Mall and in Orwigsburg on Saturday, where children raced to quickly get their prizes.
The mall held three egg hunts for three age groups, the first beginning at 11 a.m. near center court in the former KB Toys for children up to age 3.
The children and their parents - it was the only hunt where adults could assist the young children - waited at both entrances of the storefront, eagerly waiting for the word to start from mall Marketing Director Dana Baker.
The barriers to the store were removed and with a traditional countdown of "3, 2, 1," the children were off and running for the brightly colored, plastic eggs. It took about two minutes for the 2,000 eggs to be collected.
"We have 2,000 eggs for all three egg hunts," Baker said after the first hunt. The two subsequent hunts were held at noon and 2 p.m. for children ages 4 to 6 and ages 7 to 10, respectively, both located at the fountain in the Black Diamond wing.
"All the eggs have candy in them and several will contain a tag to win a special prize," Baker said. "The prizes in each hunt are geared toward the different age groups. The prizes are for toys, gift certificates, all the things the kids like."
In addition to the egg hunts, the children could also participate in a mall Easter scavenger hunt from noon to 3 p.m.
"We have different Easter-themed puzzles that the children solve. To solve the puzzle, it takes them from store to store," Baker said. "They're collecting an egg full of candy, and they have an opportunity to win more prizes as they hop from store to store."
The annual Easter egg hunt was also held at Albright's Woods in Orwigsburg at noon Saturday, sponsored by the Orwigsburg Lions Club.
Ed Winkelbauer, a club board member who has been running it for seven years now, said the egg hunt has been held for 70 years and is the same day every year, the day before Palm Sunday.
"We have five age groups and it's up to age 10," he said. "They've been doing it for so many years that people know it's going on and we don't have to advertise much."
The egg hunt attracts about 200 to 300 children who are hoping to get their share of the 3,500 eggs full of treats.
Some of the eggs have numbers in them for prizes for the children.
It started with a countdown by the Orwigsburg Fire Department, where the sound of a fire truck horn was the signal for the children to race off to collect the colorful plastic eggs.
"It starts as 12 p.m., and it's done at 12:01 p.m." Winkelbauer said.
Among the many in attendance were Colette Wertz and Eric Hulsey, both of Orwigsburg, with their children. The couple said they even came when they were young.
Mary Stine, Orwigsburg, brought her great-niece, Kaylawna Torres, to the egg hunt for the first time on Saturday.
"It was phenomenal," Stine said. "She is 5 years old and had never been to an egg hunt. It was her first time, and she loved it."
The City of Pottsville will be holding its annual hunt at 2 p.m. today at Alumni Field, with a rain date is set for April 19. The age groups are 2 years old and under, 3 to 4 years old, 5 to 6 years old and 7 to 8 years old. Participants are asked to bring a basket or collection container.
There will be an Easter bonnet contest for all ages, with prizes for the most original, prettiest and funniest.
Children can get their photo with the Easter Bunny, get flowers for mothers, win prizes and have refreshments.