Easter Egg Hunts, Other Events Planned Countywide

The Easter bunny will be busy this weekend, hiding eggs and candy across the county.

Egg hunt organizers urge parents to arrive at least 15 minutes before each event begins to make sure their child has a fair chance at grabbing some goodies.

Simi Valley

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District will hold two free Easter egg hunts starting at 10 a.m. today.

A 22-year-old Simi Valley tradition, the hunt for chocolate eggs and prizes will be held at Rancho Tapo Community Park, at Avenida Simi and Lemon Drive, and at Rancho Simi Community Park, near the intersection of Erringer Road and Royal Avenue.

The event is intended for infants and children up to age 8, and participants should bring their own baskets. Children will be grouped by age at each location.

The Easter bunny will pose for pictures with kids starting at 9 a.m. at Rancho Simi Community Park.

Oak Park

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District will hold a free Easter egg hunt at Oak Canyon Community Park, 5600 Hollytree Drive, for infants and children age 10 and younger.

The hunt begins at 10 a.m. today and will be followed by a spring arts and crafts show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A magic show, clowns, spin art and other entertainment are also planned.

Santa Paula

The city’s recreation department will hold its 12th annual Easter Egg Hunt and Day in the Park at Glen City Elementary School, 141 Steckel Drive, starting at 10 a.m. today.

The hunt for candies and other treats is intended for children ages 3 to 12.

Other activities at the festival will include craft projects and a visit from the Easter bunny.

The event is sponsored by the Santa Paula Youth Council and other community organizations.

Moorpark

A free city-sponsored Easter egg hunt will begin at 10 a.m. today for infants and children up to age 12 at Arroyo Vista Community Park on Tierra Rejada Road. Another hunt for children with special needs will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the park.

Children will hunt for treat-filled plastic eggs, with special eggs hidden throughout the park that are redeemable for candy and prizes. The event will also feature pony rides, a Moon Bounce and a petting zoo.

Port Hueneme

A free egg hunt will begin at Walter B. Moranda Park at Moranda Parkway and Surfside Drive at 9:30 a.m. today.

Children ages 10 and under, grouped by age, will comb the park for toys and candy during the event, which is sponsored by the city’s recreation department and the Port Hueneme Rotary Club.

Oxnard’s Police Club Clowns will make balloon figures at the festival, and kids will get to meet the Port Hueneme Police Department’s K-9 officer.

Ojai

Peter Cottontail will make the rounds at Libbey Park on Ojai Avenue, where the fifth annual Community Egg Hunt will start at 1 p.m. today.

Children up to 10 will be grouped by age during the free hunt for about 2,000 goody-filled plastic eggs, and participants will get to meet the Easter bunny. Kids can also make crafts and get their faces painted.

Oxnard

The city’s Recreation and Community Services Program will hold free egg hunts for youths ages 13 and under at three locations today. Organizers recommend that families show up 30 minutes early.

Hunts will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the football stadium at the old Oxnard High School at 5th Street and Hobson Way and at Colonia Park at 1st Street and Juanita Avenue.

The third hunt will start at noon at Durley Park, 800 W. Hill St.

Children will hunt for candy-filled plastic eggs at all locations, and special eggs will be redeemable for larger prizes. The Easter bunny will also make an appearance at each event.

Ventura

A full weekend of holiday happenings is slated at the Ventura Harbor Village on Spinnaker Drive.

Today, the Easter bunny and his sidekick, Carrot Top, will greet village visitors. Activities for children will include “Moon Bounce” and a petting zoo. The Michael J. Smith Trio will perform from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

On Easter, kids will hunt eggs filled with toys and treats from noon to 4 p.m. by visiting merchants who have posted pictures of a colored egg in their windows.

Visitors can see parrot shows at 12:30, 2 and 3 p.m. and magic shows at 1:15 and 2:30 p.m. The Frank Umbro Band and Buck Page will play country-western music on the Carousel Stage throughout the afternoon.

Kids can also get their faces painted, ride ponies, pet animals at the zoo and meet the Easter bunny and Carrot Top.

This afternoon, Grace Church will present the musical “The Sign of Hope” at 2 p.m. at 65 S. MacMillan Ave., Ventura. The show will be performed by hearing-impaired and non-hearing-impaired youths. The show is free, and more information is available at 643-6139.

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SUNDAY

On Sunday morning, several sunrise services are scheduled across the county. They include:

* 6 a.m. on the lawn of the United Methodist Church in Simi Valley, 2394 Erringer Road.

* 6 a.m. at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Newbury Park, 1360 S. Wendy Drive, at Potrero Road.

* 6 a.m. at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road in Westlake Village.

* 6:30 a.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.

* 6:30 a.m. at Camarillo United Methodist Church, 291 Anacapa Drive.

Other events Sunday include:

Channel Islands Vineyard Church will hold an Easter drama and egg hunt at Oxnard State Beach Park off Harbor Boulevard near the Oxnard Shores. A continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m., the egg hunt starts at 9 and the drama and Easter celebration will begin at 10.

St. Paul Baptist Church will hold a community Easter service at 11:30 a.m. at the Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. More information about the event is available by calling 486-2424.

The Ventura Center for Positive Living will offer Easter activities at 2646 Palma Drive, Building 250, Ventura. Continental breakfast will be served at 10:15 a.m., followed by a meditation at 10:30, an egg hunt at 10:45 and a service at 11. For more information, call 650-8711.