Getting ready to hunt eggs on Easter

Families will have three options this weekend when it comes to taking part in the annual ritual of Easter egg hunts.

The Eagles Club and the Jaycees will jointly hold one on Saturday as they have for decades, and the Optimists will conduct a hunt on Sunday.

New to the mix this year is the Havre High School Key Club, which will hold an Easter egg hunt at 11 a.m. on the practice field west of the school.

Kids up to 18 will be able to take part at the high school, with the competition divided up into different age groups — different colors for each category.

A table will be set up to take donations for the March of Dimes, the charity that funds research and helps families who have children with birth defects.

In past years, Key Club adviser John Ita said, Key Club members collected coins for the effort, but this year, students tried something different, he said.

As they have for at least a quarter of a century, the Eagles and the Jaycees will conduct a hunt at Eagles Park, 1st Street and 18th Avenue, at 1 p.m. Saturday. Members of the clubs will hide eggs for the children to find.

Some of the eggs will be marked as being a winner. Kids who find those special eggs will get prizes at a special party that will be held for all of the participants at the Eagles Club immediately after the hunt.

"We will have special activities, goodies and lots of fun," said Tom Farnum, the Eagles club manager.

Mike Zook, a 25-year member of the Havre Optimists, said the Easter egg hunt has been around at least as long as he has.

The Optimists hunt will be at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Optimist Park, Boulevard Avenue and 9th Street. Thursday night, members and volunteers helped color the eggs that will be used in that hunt.

Children 9 years old and younger will be able to hunt for eggs, with grand prizes given in each of three age groups.