Each year the Easter egg hunt sees more than 12,000 eggs scattered at Waterworth Memorial Park for children to find. However, before that festive fun, all those eggs need to be stuffed and sealed, by hand. For the last five years the eggs have been prepared by volunteers from the First Christian Church’s Koinonia Sunday School, who begin the process weeks in advance.

“We’re so thankful for the volunteers from the church because stuffing all those eggs was always the hardest part,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty Manager Robin Whitehair.

Parks Commission President John Panezott, who also teaches at the Sunday school, said when the department and Berkshire Hathaway began partnering for the event, he felt he could assemble a group of people who could both prep all the eggs and enjoy themselves. Panezott said he and 12 other volunteers all work together to hand-stuff each egg and tape them shut, so they don’t pop open while being scattered, and once they finish for the day, they all go out for dinner together.

“We really have a lot of fun together. We look forward to it every year,” said Panezott.

Shown from left are Peg Panezott, Nancy Clunk, Linda Williams, Aimee Hetrick, Diane Maenz, and Nancy Votaw. (Photo by Morgan Ahart) 

Whitehair said Berkshire Hathaway had previously hosted an Easter egg hunt at Firestone Park. However, when they learned that former Parks Director Shane Franks was looking for a business for the department to partner with to begin hosting its own in 2020, that it was decided to collaborate with the parks to move the event to Salem. Prior to that partnership, she said Berkshire had prepped the eggs themselves in their office.

Since then, the department and Berkshire have hosted the Easter egg hunt every year, and this year will be no exception. The 2026 Easter egg hunt will be held for children aged 10 and under at Waterworth Memorial Park on April 4, rain or shine. The hunt will be divided into three age groups, less than 5 years old, ages 5-7, and ages 8-10, with each group receiving 15 minutes to search. Parks Director Kelli Pastore said that there is no cost to participate and that there will be signs posted directing participants to the designated search areas for each age group.

“You might think 15 minutes isn’t a lot, but often the kids are already done in five minutes,” said Pastore.

“It’s amazing how fast they all go,” said Whitehair.

The hunt begins at 11 a.m. for kids under five years old, followed by ages 5-7 at 11:15 a.m., and ages 8-10 at 11:30 a.m. Whitehair said that the age groups are staggered so that parents with children in multiple age brackets can watch them all participate. She also said that there will be two search areas for the under-five age group, one for the youngest participants who need help from parents, and another for those able to make the hunt for themselves.

Even before beginning work Tuesday, the volunteers had already prepared thousands of eggs for the upcoming Easter egg hunt. (Photo by Morgan Ahart) 

Each age group will also have 10 numbered eggs and a golden egg which participants will win a special prize for finding. Pastore said that the fire department would be in attendance to help signal the start of each hunt with their siren, and each year approximately 1,500 children attend the event. The event will also feature a visit from the Easter Bunny, who will be available for pictures with children.