The Fort Frances Kiwanis Club is set for its 12th annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday, April 4 on Scott Street.
Diane Maxey, a Kiwanis Club member and one of the organizers for the Easter-themed event, recalled the first ever Eggstravaganza, which took place Ink Spotz Apparel as the weather took a decidedly un-springlike turn.
“We wanted to do an event for kids—we just wanted to have something where the community came together,” Maxey told The Times. “Our very first one was in Scott Krienke-Turvey’s store [Ink Spotz]… and we were lined up all the way down to the motel and it was pouring rain mixed with snow and slush.”
At that time Ink Spotz was located next door to Northwoods Gallery and Gifts, the current site of the Community Living Fort Frances Resource Centre. Close to 500 children came out to the event that year, Maxey said, cementing a plan for the event to become an annual occurrence.
Over the years, Eggstravaganza has grown to include many businesses and organizations from up and down the “Great Canadian Main Street.”
Maxey’s fellow Kiwanis club member and organizer Karla-Marie Rogozinski says the event’s turnout is often weather-dependent, though it will go ahead rain or shine (or snow or slush).
“We average around 400, if you ballpark it,” she said. “The event really runs itself through our community. we ask [participating businesses and organizations] to prepare for between 300 to 500 children.”
As of publication, the weather on Saturday was looking chilly with a chance of snow.
In its current format, families are asked to pick up a map at the Rainy Lake Square starting at 11 a.m.
“The printed sheet denotes all the participating businesses on the Great Canadian Main Street, and you go hopping along to all these places and get your treat from these places that participate,” Rogozinski said. “And they’ll mark it off, bring your map back.”
Finished maps are entered into a draw for other prizes, but completely filling out the map isn’t necessary to qualify. “If you’ve got little kids, they don’t have to go to all of them. It’s too much walking.”
Participants in the event range from one end of Scott Street around the Rainy Lake Square and this year include Holmlund Financial and Hallet Brewing on the 400 block. Maps must be turned in by 1 p.m. for children to be eligible for the draws after the event.
“We have three bikes and 24 baskets—all the names go in, and you might get to win one of those prizes.”
Folks are asked to hang around until the draws are made or be available after going home to come back and pick up prizes. The Easter Bunny and a few other guests will be around for photos as well as several face painters, so families are invited to bring their cameras (or phones) to take photos.
