Babies to pre-teen boys and girls, accompanied by parents, swamped Ashland's Lithia Park on Sunday, April 16. The kids' mission: To overfill their baskets with as many as possible of the 3,060 decorated colored eggs and uncountable packets of candy hidden in grassy patches during the Rotary Club of Ashland's 59th Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

The siren rang at 1 p.m., and kids bolted past temporary rope barriers to race toward treasures. Two golden eggs brought bigger prizes.

The 255 dozen eggs were purchased through Willamette Egg Farm. Each was cooked and dyed by Southern Oregon University's Dining Hall staff.

The age groups included toddlers under 2 years, who were lowered into their age-specific section by camera-laden parents. As the little ones bent to take hold of an egg, another egg seemed to spill from their basket.

Larger areas were opened for tiny treasure seekers who were 3-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years and 9-10 years old.

— Janet Eastman



jeastman@oregonian.com

503-799-8739

@janeteastman



