On one of the first spring days, West Liberty hosted activities for families in the area to enjoy. The West Liberty Lions Club, in partnership with the Downtown Business Association of West Liberty, offered a Spring Pancake Breakfast on Saturday March 21, which featured pictures with the Easter Bunny.
A Spring Open house was also hosted for the businesses that span beyond the town's Main Street.
“We had a very good crowd for the breakfast. We use these funds to enhance the park and to give back to the community. We thank everyone for their support,” said Jake Vitt, West Liberty Lions Club vice president.
The West Liberty Historical Society was also pleased to allow families to take in the beautifully restored opera house while they enjoyed their morning meal. There will be several more breakfasts hosted by the Lions Club this year, including one planned for May 30, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the large concession stand at Lions Park.
There were over 300 in attendance for the morning, and many of those families had attended the breakfast before.
“This is our second time coming. It is a very nice event. Good food. The kids like it. They get a bag of treats,” Amanda Cunningham said through the laughter and conversations of the crowded room. “What’s next?” She asked her son.
“Next, is the Easter Egg Hunt!” Jude Cunningham let out excitedly as he stood with his arms up
First- and second-graders race toward a field filled with Easter eggs at Lions Park. (NIKKI BURKHAMER | THE CHRONICLE)
About five years ago, Wendy Yang, a West Liberty Lions Club member, had a brainchild for a big Easter egg hunt that could be offered to area youths. After presenting her idea to her club, they allowed her to plan the successful, yearly event.
“I’m going to guess that there were 200 plus, which is a really good year. We had enough bags for 270,” Yang said. “We just scatter the eggs, and then the kids go and collect the eggs. Whether they collect one egg or 45, they still get a bag of candy. It’s a really good event , and it gets bigger every year.”
The Lions Club donated the candy, but children also found the coveted and popular Marie’s Candies chocolates in their loot bags.
“Marie’s donated the individually, foil-wrapped, chocolate eggs, and the bigger chocolate cream egg, with gummies, for the special golden egg prize winners,” Yang shared.
There were nine golden eggs hidden throughout the park for different age groups.
Fairlawn Elementary first-grader Layla Miller found one of the golden eggs.
She joined many other children to gather as many eggs as they could in a field meant for only her age group. There were two other groups for egg-hunting. One area was offered for pre-school up to kindergarten and another area was offered for third through fifth grades.
Families happily shared the park, garnered pictures with the Easter Bunny, filled up on chocolate candies, and took in the beautiful spring day.
Layla Miller holds her golden egg high, next to her cousin Jessica Cost, at West Liberty Lion’s Easter Egg hunt March 21. (NIKKI BURKHAMER | THE CHRONICLE)
