Ennis Lions Host Joyful Easter Egg Hunt at Lions Park
On Saturday, April 4, the Ennis Lions Club welcomed families to Ennis Lions Park for their annual Easter Egg Hunt, held under sunny blue skies and a crisp spring breeze. While there was still a bit of chill in the air, it was a far cry from past years when snow covered the grounds.
Lions members, easily recognized in their yellow fleece vests, greeted families as children eagerly gathered for one of the community’s most cherished traditions. Before the egg hunt began, kids enjoyed a wide variety of activities sponsored by the Lions. These included a spoon and egg relay race, giant parachute play, bean bag toss, temporary tattoos, sidewalk chalk art, a “guess the number of jelly beans and bunny tails” contest, and a fun search for stuffed bunnies hidden throughout the park to take home and love.
A popular addition this year was a table hosted by local Skate Park teens, where children could build their own Tech Deck skateboards. The activity kept young hands busy as excitement continued to build for the main event.
Festive characters added to the fun. The Easter Bunny and the Lions’ mascot were joined this year by a special guest, the Easter Pony, courtesy of Tena Dewey. The pony was a big hit and brought smiles to children and adults alike.
As the crowd grew, Ennis Lions Club President Matt “Hondo” Barr welcomed attendees and made a few announcements, allowing time for late arriving families to join. He also thanked the event’s generous sponsors, including the Madison Valley Women’s Club, Madison Valley Bank, First Interstate Bank/Kyler Elliott, and Jenny Rohrback of PureWest Christie’s Real Estate. Appreciation was also extended to Ennis High School’s Jamie Diehl and her students for preparing the colorful eggs, and to the Artic Circle for donating Bingo prizes.
When it was time for the hunt, children were divided into three age groups, each with their own area of the park. At the signal, the race was on. Eggs that had taken weeks of planning, hours of hiding, and even a day of raking away winter’s lingering “brown jelly beans,” as famously described by Lion George Ennis, were gathered up in a matter of minutes.
Following the children’s hunt, the fun continued with a Dog Easter Egg Hunt. Furry friends eagerly joined in, sniffing out treats and wagging their tails. Over 100 treats were shared with the four legged participants, thanks to the generosity of Treasure State Treats.
What took weeks to prepare was over in moments, but the memories will last much longer. The Ennis Lions Easter Egg Hunt continues to be a shining example of community spirit, bringing together volunteers, families, and local organizations in a celebration of tradition, generosity, and springtime joy. If you happened to miss this year’s event, be sure to mark your calendar. The hunt is held annually on the day before Easter.