Groves cousins McKenna and Lilly Michalk, both 2, carrying the baskets of eggs they found at the Groves Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at West Groves Park.
Photo: Sarah Moore

Groves cousins McKenna and Lilly Michalk, both 2, carrying the...

Groves children scramble to pick up eggs at the Groves Easter Egg Hunt in West Groves Park on Saturday. The event was sponsored by the Groves Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: Sarah Moore

Groves children scramble to pick up eggs at the Groves Easter Egg...

Groves youngster Kane Rivas, 3, with the basket of eggs he collected Saturday at the Easter Egg Hunt in West Groves Park. The event was sponsored by the Groves Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: Sarah Moore

Groves youngster Kane Rivas, 3, with the basket of eggs he...

Ani Manell, 5, lugs an Easter basket almost as big as she is that she won in a raffle Saturday at the Easter Egg Hunt at West Groves Park. The event was sponsored by the Groves Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: Sarah Moore

Ani Manell, 5, lugs an Easter basket almost as big as she is that...

Pecan Queen of Groves Lauren Rogers hands an Easter basket to the mother of a winning raffle ticket holder Saturday at the Easter Egg Hunt at West Groves Park. The event was sponsored by the Groves Chamber of Commerce.
Photo: Sarah Moore

In addition to a very respectable cache of eggs, 5-year-old Jolee Hollier found a shiny purple doubloon in the grass.

Jolee could not quite explain her proficiency in egg-gathering.

"I just found 'em!" she said when asked of her special technique.

Brothers Chase, 8, and 6-year-old Brice Fontenot arrived only to find that Chase had already aged out of the age 7 and under event.

Chase had sage advice for good egg gathering, mainly, watch out and don't trip over ant hills, which had happened to him in his single-minded focus on picking up eggs in years past, but as little brothers will do, Brice said he disregard the advice.

"I'm not going to care about the ant hills," he said.

In any case, Brice ended up with a very decent share of eggs.

After the (so-called) hunt, organizers raffled off Easter baskets stuffed with toys, in addition to some smaller gift bags, with enough on hand for everyone to leave with something.

The Chamber was able to provide the lavish outlay of gifts through generous donations from local chamber businesses, both in cash and merchandise

Ani Manell, 5, left the event lugging a basket almost as big as she was.

Best friends Elisa Elliot and Alyssa Harper, both 7, each received one of the large Easter baskets that went in the first round of raffle tickets.

They were pleased with that, as well as with the baskets of eggs they gleaned - perhaps all the more as it is the last year they will be able to do the hunt.

They weren't sad about that, however. Being 8 years old will be compensation enough for missing out on the egg hunt.

The event also featured celebrity appearances from reigning Groves Pecan Queen Lauren Rogers and the Easter Bunny, who participated in photo ops with the children.

Some youngsters rushed right up to him, and others hung back, alarmed by such a large rabbit that walked on two legs.

Lilly Michalk, 2, was one of those who had no trepidations, while her cousin, McKenna Michalk, also 2, smiled and laughed, but refused to get within arms reach of the bunny.

A few minutes later, the same scene played out with Avery Monk, 3, and her 2-year-old friend Daisy Hunt.