Heather Latter
The dip in temperatures didn’t deter hundreds of families from participating in the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club’s second-annual “Egg-Stravaganza” on Scott Street on Saturday.
“It was a great success,” enthused Kiwanian Toey Bone, noting more than 360 youngsters stopped in at downtown businesses to receive Easter goodies.
“I think it was fantastic,” echoed club president Carla Basaraba.
“I was just overwhelmed.
“It was great seeing all those little faces,” she added. “It was just a great community event.
“There were lots of moms and dads out and some grandmas and grandpas, too. . . .
“It was just wonderful.”
“We had more [participants] than last year but we were much more prepared this year,” said Bone, noting they had about 350 participants last Easter.
The inaugural event last year stunned the club, which had not expected that many families to come out.
“So we made some changes this time and I think that went over really well,” Bone remarked.
In addition to having more goodies ready to hand out, organizers had three starting locations—near From the Grind Up, Celeste’s, and the Fort Frances Museum—instead of just one that resulted in long waits and congestion last year.
“Having the three starting points, everyone was really happy with that,” Bone said.
“It helped with parking, and it alleviated a lot of the cluster and waiting lines.”
She added the participants seemed happier this year—and so did the business owners.
“The businesses were really happy with it this year,” Bone noted.
“They were much happier with the dry weather—even though it was really cold.
“We’re going to do a survey, just so they feel more involved in the whole process,” added Bone.
“Because without the businesses, we wouldn’t even have this event,” she stressed.
Bone said a couple of the businesses that the club has heard from already said they absolutely would be a part of “Egg-Stravaganza” again next year.
“People wandered through the stores,” she noted. “And maybe it’s a store they don’t go into very often, so it gets them in and one lady said she was going to go back to do some shopping.
“So it’s great for the downtown for that reason.”
Bone said a total of 18 downtown businesses gave out treats—everything from candy and stickers to toothbrushes and pencils—while upwards of 30 other businesses and groups stepped up in a variety of ways, such as donating items or money.
Basaraba admitted the weather could have been a little better for the event.
“If it had been a tad warmer or the wind hadn’t been so vicious, but there’s really nothing we can do about that, ” she reasoned.
“It would be great if we could have an inside venue, but then the merchants downtown wouldn’t be involved,” Basaraba added, noting she’s heard that business owners want to become more involved in the event.
“Some of the staff dressed up and got right into the theme of it,” she enthused.
“It’s just something that we can all work together at and keep it going.”
The event also incorporated a barbecue in front of the Fort Frances Museum, as well as photos with the Easter Bunny at Lidkea Optometry.
“The barbecue went over really well,” Bone noted.
“If it had been warmer, people probably would have stayed around more.”
Once families were done visiting the participating businesses, they brought their fully-stamped passports to Kiwanis members at the museum, where their names were entered into the draw for a variety of prizes, including two bicycles.
The lucky bike winners were Christopher Wood and Emily Medicine.
Prize baskets were won by Gavin Brusven, Graeme Drombolis, Kristin Ames, Sam Bonner-Vickers, Summer David, Aubree Robar, Andrew Fitzgerald, Arianna (no last name available), and Cayden (no last name available).
Given the event’s continued success, the Kiwanis Club certainly is planning to hold it again next year.
“We just hope to build on it a little bit more next year with a couple more ideas,” Bone remarked.
“Every year, we’re thinking of something that we can add in different ways to bring people or give them more to do once they are downtown,” Basaraba said.
“We weren’t able this year to get some bunnies for the kids to pet; we’re looking into that.”
Meanwhile, with Easter being earlier next year (March 27), Basaraba said plans will be made with the assumption it will be cold.
“We could possibly be contending with some snow on the ground,” she remarked.
“We’ll figure it out,” echoed Bone. “We’ll have hot chocolate instead of juice.”
With the Kiwanis Club also sponsoring the Good Friday breakfast the previous morning, Basaraba indicated Easter perhaps could be known as “their” holiday.
“All in all, it’s a great thing for the community,” she enthused.
“We’re not always about fundraising,” Bone explained, noting they do fundraise in order to sponsor kids to go to Sunny Cove Camp.
“But this is just something we wanted to do to give back to the community, and just open it up so that all children have an opportunity to come and have some fun,” she added.
