Sky Valley on the hunt for Easter

The Sky Valley will be hopping with candy-seekers this weekend, as the Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar communities celebrate Easter and usher in spring with egg hunts on Saturday, March 26. Here is the lowdown on each hunt, so dust off those Easter baskets and prepare for some family adventures.-á

Monroe

Organized by the Monroe Parks Department with help from a volunteer committee, Monroe's community egg hunt is celebrating its 20th year. The event starts at 9 a.m. at Lake Tye Park with plenty of free activities for families, including face painting, games and photos with the Easter Bunny. The egg hunt begins at 10 a.m., and all kids through the age of 10 are welcome to participate.

Monroe's egg hunters are advised to bring their own Easter baskets to the event.

Numerous vendors will have booths set up at the park, many with interactive games, arts and crafts and other things to do. Jerry "Big DogGÇ¥ Dixon will serve as the event emcee and Sharinabean's Coffee Shop owner Sharina McCrain will be at the Lake Tye concession area selling coffee drinks, hot chocolate and pastries.

Attendance at this year's event is being projected at around 2,000 people.

Lake Tye Park is located at 14964 Fryelands Blvd. in Monroe. For more information about Monroe's Community Egg Hunt, contact Denise Jacobsen at djacobsen@monroewa.gov. -á -á

Sultan

A tradition for more than 50 years, Sultan's East Egg Dash and Block Party is reputedly the longest-running egg hunt in the valley. The event is coordinated by Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce volunteer Elizabeth Emmons with help from local partners, and includes a visit from the Easter bunny, an egg dash, games, a free bouncy house, face painting, arts and crafts and treats.

"The bunny is ready, the eggs stuffed, flyers sent home,GÇ¥ Emmons said. "We are so excited for families with kids of all ages to welcome spring with candy and fun. Bring your basket ' you're going to need it.GÇ¥

Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. on Main Street near the Sultan gazebo, with activities extending down the entire block. The Easter Bunny arrives on a fire truck at 11 a.m., escorted by Snohomish County Fire District No. 5, and the egg dash takes place at noon. The dash is broken up into several different age categories to even the playing field for participants.

Parents are allowed to accompany toddlers age three and younger on the dash, but are not permitted to touch the eggs.

This year's event features more collaboration than ever before, Emmons said. Numerous local organizations came together to help with the planning, including Snohomish County Fire District No. 5, the Rock Church, Mountainview Christian Fellowship, Crosswater Community Church, Sky Valley Childcare and Grace Fellowship. Sultan residents Jody and Tiffany Kerr and countless other residents donated candy, eggs, money and supplies to help ensure the event is a success, Emmons said.

"No one group or organization could offer such a fantastic event,GÇ¥ Emmons said. "This collaboration is quintessential Sky Valley.GÇ¥-á

For more information about Sultan's egg hunt, contact Emmons at elizabeth_ben2003@yahoo.com.

Gold Bar

Gold Bar's Easter egg hunt is sponsored by the Gold Bar Red Hat Ladies, with support from the city of Gold Bar. The celebration takes place at Gold Bar Elementary School, and will include free raffle tickets given out 9-9:30 a.m., followed by the 9:30 egg hunt. Children ages 12 and under are welcome to participate, and parental supervision is required.

Kids are asked to bring their own baskets to the event. Prizes will be raffled off after the hunt.-á -á

Gold Bar Elementary School is located at 419 Lewis Ave. in Gold Bar. For more information about the egg hunt, visit cityofgoldbar.us.