In anticipation for the upcoming holiday, Easter events in and outside of the classroom take place throughout the community in order to get kids excited about the season.
Asher’s Chocolate hosted its annual Easter egg hunt on April 12 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., with different allotted time slots for a range of age groups.
According to Asher’s Chocolate’s Director of Marketing Chester Asher, their free Easter egg hunt is something they have always done during the spring season for the surrounding area.
“It’s really just a special thing that we like to do for the community,” Asher said. “And when I inherited this role and this event, I said, ‘Why would we change it?’”
While Easter is a big chocolate-selling season, Asher said the egg hunt is a way for their company to give back to their customers. “The more you give back to the area, the more they’ll support you, and [the] more of a homestyle name you become,” Asher said. “And that’s what we’ve always believed in, is your community is kind of the heart of what you do.”
West Norriton resident Heather Ionno-Luetz said she enjoys these locally-focused events as well.
“We love doing community events,” Ionno-Luetz said. “Basically just anything getting out in the community [to] give back as much as possible as well.”
Sellersville resident Mike Dalmati said that along with Asher’s egg hunt bringing people together, it’s also good for their business.
“I’m sure numerous people go next door and buy stuff after this,” Dalamati said.
According to Asher, the biggest challenge with the event for the past few years has been dealing with the weather, which forces him to move the event inside.
“For once, I’d love to just see this thing run as it’s supposed to, and actually get to see the kiddies running around and doing the egg hunt,” Asher said.
West Norriton resident Meghan Trout said the amount of people who still show up in the rainy weather speaks to the kind of event Asher’s hosts. “They’re not doing what they normally do every year, and all these people are showing up,” Trout said. “That says a lot about what people think about the community.”
According to Pennsburg resident Lauren Landis, Asher’s event still has a positive impact on the children who participate.
“We’re down, rain or shine,” Landis said.
Lansdale resident Christina Jenne said events like Asher’s also help to get kids in the mood for the holiday, and to learn about the Easter bunny.
Little Red Playschool Director Teresa Doyle said she hosts a general spring party for her students, along with giving them activities revolving around chicks and bunnies, and their own Easter egg hunt right before spring break.
Doyle said at her students’ age, the main focus is having them practice their socialization, and letting them come together to do something fun. “I try to make it a fun, special day where there’s a lot of games and things like that,” Doyle said, “and not just specifically learning activities that day but more of the fun, exciting activities.”