The 11th annual Easter Eggstravaganza, hosted by Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and underwritten by Midwest Energy Cooperative, Honor Credit Union and Kappa Beta Sorority, will be staged in the central business district beginning at 10 a.m. March 31.

In case of inclement weather, the celebration will be held the following Saturday, according to the event’s new chairman, Jessica Kehrer,  a branch manager at Honor Credit Union.

This year’s parade, numbers more than 100 units, according to Trish Brazo, team leader for Huntington Bank who oversees the Chamber’s Candle-light Christmas Parad.

The old-fashioned Easter egg hunt and related activities will be in and around Beckwith Park and across the street at Who Knew? Consignment, where children can visit with the Easter bunny beginning at 10 a.m. inside the store.
The city’s Department of Public Safety is co-hosting the event that features the annual “Be a Bunny” costume contest at 11:45 a.m. at Beckwith Park.

Kehrer said costumed bunnies and their parents should gather beneath the Haggin-Wimberley bandstand beginning at 11:30 a.m. for the contest that awards prizes for the best overall costume, most colorful and most original.

New this year, free face painting will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., provided by Robyn Ake.

The 73rd Miss Dowagiac Erica Greenwood and her court will be on hand to greet children, as will costumed characters Eddie Eagle, Ashes the Fire Dog and Smokey the Bear.

“Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and are invited to take pictures of their children as they visit with the Easter bunny at Who Knew? Consignment, prior to and after the Easter egg hunt,” Kehrer said.

Children who visit the consignment store will receive a complimentary bag to use at the egg hunt.
Kehrer and her volunteers have stuffed 8,000 pieces of wrapped candy and trinkets into 4,000 brightly colored plastic eggs that will await youngsters that morning. Kehrer said the first 200 children to meet the Easter bunny receive a free springtime activity set, courtesy of Kappa Beta Sorority and the Chamber of Commerce.

Children, ages 2 to 5, will hunt for their eggs within Beckwith Park beginning at noon. The Easter egg hunt for children, ages 6 to 10, will be held on the Depot Drive lawn way, behind the park.

Children also can enjoy chalk art and lawn games.