Ryan Rupiper and Sarah Anderson are ready for the Easter egg hunt scheduled for Saturday morning, April 12, beginning at 10 a.m. sharp at Wilson Brewer Park in Webster City. They're shown here with some of the nearly 4,000 candy-filled Easter eggs that will be hidden at the park.

Everyone knows what an Easter egg hunt is about. Eggs have long been associated with Easter, and the rebirth of the natural world in springtime. The Easter bunny probably originated in Germany, where children dreamed hares (rabbits) would lay colored eggs for them at Easter.

Our own Easter egg hunting traditions come from Victorian England, where the idea of filling artificial eggs with candy and hiding them for children to find originated.

But if you think Sarah Anderson, Faith Formation director at Trinity Lutheran Church, Webster City, and Ryan Rupiper, Hamilton County deputy sheriff, and Wilson Brewer Park Foundation board member, would be content with a “traditional” Easter egg hunt, you don’t know them very well.

The collaboration of the two community leaders began when Rupiper heard Anderson had just received a shipment of 4,000 plastic Easter eggs. Yes reader, you read that right: 4,000.

Anderson put TLC’s youth classes to work stuffing the eggs with candy. They’ll be “hidden” at Wilson Brewer Park in three areas, carefully cordoned-off, one each for children up to 3 years old, one for those ages 4 to 8, and another for those older than 8. There doesn’t seem to be an official upper age limit for children. Adults, please exercise judgment and moderation.

A fourth zone, described by Anderson as for children of “all abilities,” will ensure every participant finds an egg, and likely more than one.

The Easter egg hunt begins at 10 a.m. sharp and will end when all eggs are found. The Color

Run will take place at 10:30 a.m. All other activities will begin following the egg hunt and continue until approximately 11 a.m.

Everything takes place at Wilson Brewer Park, corner of Superior and Ohio Streets, on Saturday, April 12.

Tantalizingly, a lucky few children will find one of 20 “golden eggs” that hold a ticket redeemable for special prizes.

Trinity Lutheran will offer free face painting and free make-and-take Easter egg coloring on the lawn east of the historic Illinois Central Depot Museum.

The Easter Bunny herself will pose with children for free photos in the historic Mulberry Center Church at the park.

Children can also frost their own Easter cookies at the event. Grama’s Diner, Webster City, has baked 300 egg-shaped sugar cookies especially for this purpose. Both cookies and frosting are provided free of charge. Volunteers from Asbury United Methodist Church will supervise.

Rupiper Farms, of Webster City, is home to goats, rabbits and chickens, and Rupiper is bringing some of each as part of the celebration.

“My kids raise rabbits for 4-H, and raising animals is my hobby,” Rupiper said. Several of his prized Silkie chickens, a breed that originates in China, and is known for its especially fluffy, silk-like plumage, will strut their stuff. They promise to change your mind of what Easter chicks look like.

Rounding out the display of adorable baby animals, Trisha Rupiper, operations manager at Webster City’s The Cat Hut, will have baby kittens available for adoption.

Two more attractions will make this an Easter to remember.

Cera Atchison-Wright, creator of balloon sculptures, will fashion bunny ears for the kids and Bell Bottom Mobile Café, from Ames, will offer coffee and coffee drinks for purchase. You can’t miss their vintage pink Volkswagen bus with large flowers and butterflies painted on the sides. Coffee never tasted this good in the ’70s.

Those looking for moderate exercise, and a new spring wardrobe, haven’t been forgotten. Anderson and volunteers from TLC are hosting a Color Run. This will be a short run/walk from Wilson Brewer Park, north on Union Street to the outdoor pool, returning to the park via River Street. It is not a competition, and there’s no need to run.

At five stations along the route, participants, who are encouraged to wear white or light-colored clothing, will be dusted with dry, powdered paint, which will attach to the clothing in a random, artistic pattern. The effect is along the order of tie-dyeing. The paints used are FDA food safe, but participants are encouraged to wear sunglasses and a mask to avoid getting powder in eyes or nose. No pre-registration or fee is required for the Color Run.

Although Anderson and Rupiper are the main organizers, both are quick to point out an event like this takes plenty of volunteers. Among those they wish to thank specifically are Lori Foster, Anne Blankenship and Brady Winter, all of Van Diest Medical Center; volunteers from Trinity Lutheran and Asbury United Methodist; and the Wilson Brewer Park Foundation Board.

Parking is available in the lot of the Iowa Health & Human Services office building, 1900 Superior Street, and along Ohio Street, east of Superior. Overflow parking is available in the lot south of the Yes Way convenience store, 1803 Superior Street. Visitors are asked to please not park in the spaces immediately next to the Yes Way store. These are reserved for customers.

Parents are advised some candies in the Easter eggs contain peanuts or peanut butter. Caution is required for children or adults with known or suspected peanut allergy.

Jerry Kloberdanz, Doug Bailey and Mark Roberts, all of Webster City, help with the clean up at Wilson Brewer Park on Saturday. They were among the volunteers getting the park ready for Saturday’s Easter Egg Hunt.