EAST PALESTINE – The East Palestine Spring Fling is in full bloom with the day-long event set to take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. East Palestine Area of Commerce invites the public to “shop, hop and eat all day” in the village during the annual celebration.

The festivities will get underway at 9 a.m. with “Breakfast with the Easter Bunny.” The pancake and sausage breakfast will be held at the East Palestine City Park Community Center. Treat bags, sponsored by the East Palestine Rotary Club, will be given out to the first 100 children. A Chinese auction will be held in conjunction with the breakfast.

The Easter egg hunt will follow at 11 a.m. on the park’s tennis and basketball courts. Areas will be designated by age group. The location was chosen to ease health concerns in the wake of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Both courts have been cleaned and disinfected by the railroad. Air and soil testing conducted at the park and in the village have shown no cause for alarm. Norfolk Southern has donated 2,000 candy-filled eggs for the annual hunt as well as 30 eggs that contain McDonald’s vouchers. Twelve eggs that contain toys were also donated by the railroad.

The day will conclude with prize drawings as a way to give the East Palestine businesses, which have suffered since the rail disaster, a much-needed boost. Prize tickets will be available throughout the day at most village businesses. The more shops visited, the more prize tickets that can be collected. Those tickets are to be turned in to Spring Fling Headquarters in the Municipal Building located at 85 N. Market St. before 4 p.m.

Several businesses will hold sales and promotions exclusive to Saturday. Children are invited to Sprinklz on Top to decorate their own cookie. Manetta’s Furniture and Decor will hold an adult Easter egg hunt at its location (prizes will include discounts that can be used in-store). The Easter Bunny will hand out eggs with discounts and candy at Enchanted Salon with cupcakes, cookies and refreshments. Cuttin’ Loose Hair Shop will also offer free cookies and beverages. Eighth & Moon Photography will hold Superhero Mini Sessions from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $75. The Way Station’s entire store will be half off. An “Eggscape” will take place at Village Escapes (visit villageescapesllc.wixsite.com to schedule a time). Fuller’s True Value Hardware is holding a buy-one- key-get one-key- free promotion. The 1820 House Candle Co. at 135 N. Market St. is offering 10 percent off all signature line fragrances. Spring items will be 20 percent off at the Corner Store. NeNe’s Collectibles & Gifts 39 will hold a basket giveaway.

Other participating businesses include Brittain Motors, Buck Berry Farms, Bulldog Custom Tattooing, Corner Store, Clip-N-Claws Grooming, Cuttin’ Loose Hair Shop, Dollar General, Doyle’s Deli, East Palestine Liquor Stop, Elwonger Florist, Enchanted Salon, LLC, Family Dollar, Flags and Specialties, Flowers Straight from the Heart, Kay’s Kuttin Korral, Mama’s Attic, Ohio Valley Sparkle Markets, Rite Aid, Runnion’s Originals, Skilz, Styles by Kenneth, Sutherin’s Greenhouse, T&M Hardware, The Dunes Tanning Salon, The Shaggy Dog. China Cae, Cozza’s Pizza, Dairy Mill, Dairy Queen, Dogs On The Run, Eagle’s, Gorby’s, Ianazone’s Pizza, McDonald’s, MJB Barbecue, Pizza Hut, Pizza Joes, Subway, and The Original Roadhouse.