BIDDEFORD — Five thousand plastic eggs.

Two hundred-plus children.

Fun and utter chaos. 

That was the scene at Biddeford Primary School on Saturday, as hundreds of children from Biddeford and beyond charged through the school’s playground, gathering eggs as they went, in pursuit of the sweet prizes inside.

It was Biddeford’s 18th annual Easter Egg Hunt, which typically draws between 200 and 300 children and their parents to Rotary Park each year for a day of adventure and excitement.

The hunt was moved to the primary school due to this year’s heavy snowfall and soggy park conditions, Biddeford Recreation officials said, causing worry that the event wouldn’t draw as many young ones for this year’s hunt.

But that wasn’t the case on Saturday, as a line of children dressed in their finest rabbit ears stretched into the school’s parking lot, all vying for the chance to collect an egg bearing tickets for one of several prize baskets offered at the hunt’s end.

Recreation officials said the event provides children a day of fun, in a safe and welcoming environment, in the fresh spring air.

“It’s just a nice event for a couple hours,” said Carl Walsh, Biddeford Recreation director. “We’re able to come out and have a good time. It’s something that’s outside as much as we can.”

Trey Coleman, 5, who attends St. James School in Biddeford, said he wanted to hunt for eggs this year after a successful hunt last year, during which his brother got a big-prize ticket.

He said he’d definitely come back next year.

Parents also said the event was great for them, as their children meandered about the playground, had their faces painted, played games and sported balloon hats that were made for them.

“This is wonderful for everybody of all ages. Everybody who loves Easter should be here,” said Hannah Haskell, of Saco, while watching her 3 1/2-year-old son, Brody.

Mother Kari Berube agreed, saying the event is a great way for her kids to let out the energy they’ve been storing all winter.

“It’s great to see everyone come together like this,” she said, after her two sons Jordan, 6, and Brandon, 2, took photographs with the Easter Bunny. “It’s nice to see everyone outside of school.”

The event was just one of many sponsored annually by Biddeford Recreation. Walsh said the organization hosts similar events for kids in the fall for Halloween and in the winter around Christmas time.

And right now, Walsh said, Recreation is hard at work on building its summer camp programming in time for school to let out.

“We’ve always been busy and we’re just getting busier,” he said.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.

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