Nearly 100 special prize Easter baskets were there for the taking on Saturday, as Escalon youngsters by the dozens dashed on to the fields behind El Portal Middle School in the community’s annual Easter Egg Hunt.

Hosting by the Escalon Kiwanis Club, in cooperation with the Escalon High School Key Club and the FFA, the annual hunt played out under sunny skies and cool temperatures, avoiding the rain that came later in the weekend.

Hunt time was 10 a.m. Saturday and kids were divided into four different age divisions, with each age group having a specific hunting area set aside just for them.

Key Club members helped get ready for the big day ahead of time, stuffing some 1,500 plastic eggs with candy and treats for youngsters to find. An additional 94 ‘golden’ eggs were also divided up among the four locations, with those finding the golden eggs receiving a special Easter basket packed with candy, toys, games and more.

Escalon FFA members had been collecting items to help fill the baskets over the past several weeks and, their efforts, combined with donations from the Kiwanis Club, provided the Easter treats.

Kiwanis Club members also set up a snack station with coffee, milk, juice and pastries for attendees to enjoy. The Easter Bunny was on hand to pose for photos and each participant, along with gathering as many plastic eggs as they could, received a gift bag as they entered the school grounds, making sure everyone went home with something.

The countdown from 10 by Key Club advisor Rick Heflin never actually made it to zero before the groups of hunters took off, many with parents trailing behind to help with the search.

Once the grounds were scoured and the golden eggs collected – only one golden egg was slowed per person – those finding them formed a line to pick up the baskets and the entire ‘hunt; event was completed in about a half hour.

Kiwanis Club members said they are grateful for the continued support of the FFA and Key Club in making sure the annual egg hunt goes off smoothly.