HOP TIL YOU DROP : Kids Can Follow the Bunny Trail to Egg Hunts, Picnics, Contests

Here comes Peter Cottontail!

It’s Easter and time for annual egg hunts, carnivals, picnics, games and fun.

Cities and community organizations throughout Orange County are sponsoring egg -citing activities for children this weekend that range from egg tosses and candy scrambles to petting zoos, puppet shows, arts and crafts and egg-coloring contests.

And of course, the Easter Bunny will be making special visits, providing photo opportunities.

Children planning on joining in the fun of Easter egg hunts shouldn’t forget to bring a basket to gather eggs, candy and prizes.

* Anaheim--Easter egg hunts, 10 a.m. Saturday at five locations, for children through age 12: Peralta Park, 111 N. Pinney Drive; Canyon Rim Park, 7305 E. Canyon Rim Road; Brookhurst Park, 2271 W. Crescent Ave.; Modjeska Park, 1331 S. Nutwood St.; and Pearson Park, 400 N. Harbor Blvd. Cost: $1 per children. (714) 254-5191.

* Brea--Brea Kiwanis Club Easter Egg Hunt, 9 a.m. Saturday at Arovista Park at Imperial Highway and Berry Street, for children through age 8. Free. (714) 524-8431.

* Buena Park--Annual Spring Eggstravaganza, 10 a.m. Saturday at Boisseranc Park, 7520 Dale St., off La Palma Avenue. For children through age 12. Bonnet-making contest, parade, petting zoo, candy scramble. Free. (714) 562-3844.

* Cypress--The 19th annual Easter Egg Hunt, co-sponsored by the American Legion Post 295, 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Oak Knoll Park, 5700 Orange Ave., and Manzanita Park, at Orangewood Avenue and Holder Street. Free hot dogs and lemonade and a visit from the Easter Bunny. (714) 229-6780.

* Dana Point--Easter egg hunt, 9 a.m. Saturday for children ages 2 to 10, at Del Obispo Park, 34052 Del Obispo Road. Free. Country breakfast 8-11 a.m., $3.50 a person, $2 for children 5 and under. Sponsored by the Capistrano Bay Park and Recreation District. (714) 496-4251.

* Fountain Valley--Activities begin at 10 a.m. Saturday; egg hunt at 11 a.m. for children through age 9, at Fountain Valley Recreation Center, 16400 Brookhurst St. Free. (714) 839-8611.

* Fullerton--Fullerton South Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt, 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday at Hillcrest Park, southeast corner at Lemon Street. For children through age 10. Prizes, Easter Bunny. Free. (714) 871-8600.

* Garden Grove--Easter Carnival, 10 a.m. Saturday at Village Green Park, 12732 Main St. Carnival games, food booths, egg hunt, egg toss, face painting, bunny photos. Free. Co-sponsored with Main Street Merchants Assn. (714) 741-5200.

* Huntington Beach--Easter egg hunt, 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Central Park, off Edwards Street and Central Park Drive. For children through age 8. Free. (714) 536-5486.

* Irvine--Great Egg Hunt today at 9 a.m. at University Community Park, 1 Beech Tree Lane, for children 2 to 12 and at 9 a.m. Saturday for children 2 to 9, Northwood Community Park, 4531 Bryan Ave. $12 per child. For registration, call (714) 724-6610.

* Laguna Beach--Easter egg hunt, 1 p.m. Easter Sunday, Laguna Beach High School athletic field, 625 Park Ave., for children through age 9. Sponsored by American Legion Post 222. Free. (714) 494-4801.

* Laguna Hills--Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m. Saturday at Costeau Park, off Alicia Parkway and Costeau Street. Co-sponsored by Lakeview Real Estate Co. Games, prizes, face painting. Free. (714) 457-3477.

* Laguna Niguel--Easter Eggstravaganza, 9 a.m. Saturday at Chapparosa Park, Golden Lantern and Chapparosa Road; puppet show, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; petting zoo, crafts, face painting, Easter Bunny. No egg hunt. Cost: $3 for children ages 2-12; 13 and older, $1; under 2 are free. Tickets must be purchased in advance at Crown Valley Community Park office, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway. (714) 362-4350.

* La Habra--Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m. Saturday at La Bonita Park, 1300 W. La Habra Blvd., for children 2-8. Sponsored by Taco Bell on Whittier Boulevard, the Key Club of La Habra High School, La Habra Kiwanis Club and La Habra Community Services Department. La Habra Police Department will perform free fingerprinting of children, and the Fire Department will display fire equipment. Free. (310) 905-9708.

* La Palma--Bunny Brunch today 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot dogs, fruit, salad, chips, drinks served. Cost $3. Also, Easter Fantasy to follow with arts and crafts, contests, carnival games, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Free. For brunch tickets, call (714) 522-6740.

* Los Alamitos--Easter Egg Hunt, Friday, 10 a.m., for children ages 2 to 6, at Little Cottonwood Park, 4000 Farquhar Ave.; also 1:30 p.m. hunt at Rossmoor Park, 3232 Hedwig Road, for children 5 years and up. Free. (714) 827-8670.

* Mission Viejo--Bunny Days, 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Mission Viejo Community and Senior Center, at Oso Viejo and La Paz roads. Carnival games, crafts, exotic animal show, egg hunts start at noon. Free. (714) 768-0981.

* Newport Beach--The 10th annual Great Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m. Saturday at Eastbluff Park, at Vista del Oro and Vista del Sol, for children through age 9. Co-sponsored by Eastbluff Village Center. Free. (714) 644-3151.

* Placentia--Easter Egg-Citement, 10 a.m. Saturday, Kraemer Park, 201 N. Bradford Ave. Hunt for children through age 9. Free. Pancake breakfast, 7 to 10 a.m., $3 per person, or $10 per family, sponsored by Placentia Rotary Club. (714) 993-8232.

* San Clemente--Easter Eggstravaganza, Saturday, 9:30 egg hunt, at San Gorgonio Park, 2916 Via San Gorgonio. Cost, $1 for those pre-registered by today ;$2 on the day of the event for residents. Add 50 cents for non-residents. San Clemente Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost, $2.50. (714) 361-8264.

* San Juan Capistrano--Old-Fashioned Spring Family Picnic, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Cook Park, corner of Calle Arroyo and La Novia Avenue. Cost, $5 a person, egg hunt for children through age 10. Lunch includes hot dogs and sodas. (714) 493-5911.

* Santa Ana--Easter egg hunts will be featured at four city parks Saturday with activities beginning at 10 a.m. Locations: El Salvador Park, 1825 W. Civic Center Drive, (714) 647-6558; Memorial Park, 2102 S. Flower St., (714) 549-6887; Jerome Park, 726 S. Center St., (714) 647-6559; Santa Anita Park, 300 S. Figueroa, (714) 647-6552. Free.

* Stanton--Easter egg hunt, 10 a.m. Saturday, sponsored by the American Legion Post 783, at City Hall, 10660 Western Ave. Craft workshop for children through age 12; games, contests, arts and crafts, visit from Peter Rabbit. Free. (714) 220-2220, Ext. 277.

* Tustin--Spring egg hunt, 10 a.m. Saturday at Columbus Tustin Park, corner of Irvine Boulevard and Prospect Avenue. For children ages 2 to 10. Free. (714) 544-8890, Ext. 220.

* Yorba Linda--Easter Egg-Citement, 10 a.m. Saturday at Hurless Barton Park, 4601 Casa Loma Ave. Art contest, dance “eggs-ibition,” hunt for children 2 to 7 starts at 11 a.m. Free. (714) 961-7160.