From the hallowed halls of local parochial schools to the bustling community centers of the region, the spirit of Easter took hold this week as hundreds of children participated in a series of egg-statically successful events. Despite a touch of chilly spring weather, the community turned out in droves to celebrate tradition, faith, and the simple joy of a well-hidden plastic egg.
This eggcentric week kicked off on April 1st at Trinity Lutheran School. The Cardinals were more than eager to scour the school grounds for 240 hidden treasures. To ensure everyone went home happy, a strict 10-egg maximum was enforced.
The event was graced by local royalty, including Miss Janesville Chloe Kaiser and First Attendant Kayleigh Donner. Even the Easter Bunny made a special appearance, portrayed by the ever-dedicated Laura Seys, who represented the Janesville Chamber of Commerce (JCC). The hunt was organized with precision: 3rd and 4th graders took the first pass at the playground before the area was reset for the K-2 students. The morning culminated with the Pre-K class—the tiniest Cardinals—who proved to be the most enthusiastic hunters of the day.
Beyond the hunt, the 3rd-grade class at Trinity Lutheran spent Holy Week reflecting on the season through art. Students created intricate watercolor wash paintings of Jesus Christ, utilizing unique techniques like salt and plastic wrap to add professional-grade texture to their work. Once the base was dry, students added a pastel layer, tracing the image of Christ to complete their final products.
The Janesville Chamber of Commerce expanded the holiday cheer on April 2nd, contributing to a staggering total of 4,270 eggs prepared for students at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton.
While this particular Chamber hunt was historically held at a nearby lake for as long as many can remember, recent years have seen a shift in venue. Following a disruption caused by COVID-19, a touching letter from a young Bulldog inspired Seys to bring the Easter Bunny directly into the JWP school building.
From the thrilled 4th graders to the preschool children who smiled cheek to cheek, the delight was palpable. Students arrived prepared with bunny-themed buckets and egg cartons to hold their 10-egg bounty. The event was a true community effort, with Miss Janesville royalty and several National Honor Society members—including Mikayla Wheelock, Rachelle Oelke, Neveah Weimert, Ellie Morsching, and Emma Huelsnitz—assisting with the scattering of eggs.
On April 4th, the Pemberton Egg Fest lived up to its reputation as the region’s largest event, featuring an eggs-orbitant amount of 20,000 eggs filled with treats and coins. While the weather forced the epically eggy hunt indoors to the Pemberton Event Center, the change in venue did little to dampen the spirits of the families gathered.
Attendees enjoyed a classic meal of hot dogs, chips, and lemonade while waiting for their turn with the Easter Bunny. As is tradition, the reactions to the Bunny ranged from pure stoke to straight fearful tears.
Supported by the Maple River Serteen group, the event featured a massive prize drawing. The luckiest participants walked away with grand prizes including Barbie Dream Houses, several bicycles, Easy-Bake Ovens, LEGO sets, and a giant stuffed rabbit. The pandemonium began with the 0-2 age group waddling through a sea of eggs, followed by a stampede of 3-5 graders who took over the gym. A final group of 6-10 year olds brought a measure of controlled chaos as the egg-shaped bounties were snatched up with a frightening quickness. In a span of 10 minutes, nearly 20,000 eggs had been collected, emptied, and discarded only to be refilled once more in a year’s time.
The week of festivities concluded on Easter Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran. The hunt took place within the school portion of the church, where hallways and classrooms were transformed into a maze of hidden candy.
Guided by friendly faces like Grace and Marshall Freitag, the children plucked eggs from every corner. After the feeding frenzy subsided, the young hunters gathered to sort their bounty, trading candy and playing with “sticky slap toys.”
It was a fitting end to the week—a moment of community and hijinks during the most holy of days, leaving everyone content with their bounty and the strength of their local bonds.
