MARION — Multicolor plastic eggs decorated Silvershell Beach as crowds of kids and parents gathered in the sand, eager to kick off the second annual Saint Gabriel Episcopal Church Easter egg hunt.

Participants were treated to face painting, egg hunting, candy collecting, raffle prizes and an appearance from the Easter bunny himself at the free event.

Brimley Roberts, a 9-year-old Old Hammondtown Elementary student, said her favorite part of Easter is participating in the events.

“I like getting excited for the Easter Bunny to come and I like looking for the eggs,” said Brimley.

Melina McMahon, a ten-year-old Rochester Memorial School student, said she enjoyed the candy and honoring the story of Jesus’s resurrection during Easter.

“That was really fun trying to race everybody to see who would get the most, grabbing the piles [of eggs],” said Melina.

While there was plenty of fun and games, Director of Youth and Family Foundation Wendy Reardon also emphasized the Easter event serves as a reminder of their faith.

“It’s an opportunity to remind people that the church is there, that Easter is about God and Jesus, celebrating our faith, living out our faith,” said Reardon.

Saints Youth Group Members took on the bulk of the responsibility in running the event which also served as a fundraiser for an upcoming mission trip. 

“The kids have done everything. They run the event, they provide all the candy, they stuff all the eggs, they make all the raffle baskets and stuff like that,” said Reardon.

Youth group president Fioba Robeda said she enjoys seeing how the event “brings the community together and how fun it is.”

“We love to give back to the community and supply a good Easter egg hunt but it’s also a fundraiser for our upcoming mission trip to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene relief,” said Robeda.