Easter Egg Hunt brings generations of families together

The 5-8 year olds take off from the starting line Friday during the annual Langton Firefighters Auxiliary Easter Egg Hunt.

Chris Abbott

Editor

There have been some Easter egg hunting legends in Langton over the last 35 years.

It’s just a matter of knowing where to go – and it helps if you’re quick and observant.

“I just ran forward… and it was over there,” said Kamilla Millinger, 11, from Glen Meyer, who found a special plastic egg in the 9-12 area Friday at the Langton Lions Community Sports Complex park. It was redeemed for one of 18 gift baskets, which included games, crafts, goodies and gift cards.

“Last year, somebody else got it. So I just ran over there and I got it this year. As soon as they blew the whistle, I went there, picked it up - it was buried with leaves - brought it back, then I went to get as many (chocolate) eggs as I could.”

Millinger, who ‘ages out’ next year at her fourth Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Langton Firefighters Auxiliary, already has a plan to find ‘back-to-back’ prizes.

“Go to the same spot,” she smiled.

Carrie Holbrook from the Langton Firefighters Auxiliary remembers Langton’s first Easter Egg Hunt in 1990, the same year the auxiliary formed, with 144 participants. This year she estimated 350-400 children.

“It’s so nice to see them all together, the children, the families. I love it – I absolutely love it.”

Holbrook has been on the auxiliary executive ever since, but is now ready to retire.

“I have a paper at home with a list of things that need to be done… and I go down the list and follow it. The first thing you do is make sure the eggs are ordered super early,” she said, noting the Easter Egg Hunt is a team event. “One person couldn’t do this.”

Grey skies threatened in the morning and thunder crashed a few hours later before it cleared up. But they didn’t have the rain-soaked fields that forced the 2019 egg hunt indoors (the third time in 30 years) or the parking lot full of snow in 2015.

This year the Auxiliary, assisted by generous sponsors, purchased hundreds of bags of foil-wrapped chocolate. Langton (Norfolk Station 7) firefighters scattered the 13,000 eggs and volunteered at Friday’s event.

Holbrook thanked the helpers and all of the 2025 sponsors, including Sara Schram, Langton Women’s Institute, Langton Lions, Langton CWL, Langton Knights of Columbus, Long Point Lioness, McFarlan Rowlands, Langton Food Mart, Langton Pharmacy, Shoppers Drug Mart, Verhoeve Funeral Home, E360 Sanitation, and anonymous donors.

chris@granthaven.com