A wild, sunny scramble for eggs, candy at Valley parks | Slideshow

Plastic eggs of dozens of hues glinted in the morning sunlight on mowed grass at Valley parks, awaiting the big moment: Purple, teal, pale green, red, and here and there, the gleam of gold. Then, with a shout, the Easter eggs were snapped up in minutes, perhaps even seconds. "There's thousands of eggs out here," remarked Hailey Weider, 6, of Snoqualmie, who lined up on the sidelines at Centennial Fields park for her chance at candy.

April 7, 2012 2:43 pm
A youngster goes in for a closer look at prize eggs at Centennial Fields. The Snoqualmie hunt was sponsored by the Snoqualmie Ridge Residential Owners Association and Snoqualmie Parks and Recreation.
A youngster goes in for a closer look at prize eggs at Centennial Fields. The Snoqualmie hunt was sponsored by the Snoqualmie Ridge Residential Owners Association and Snoqualmie Parks and Recreation.

Plastic eggs of dozens of hues glinted in the morning sunlight on mowed grass at Valley parks, awaiting the big moment: Purple, teal, pale green, red, and here and there, the gleam of gold.

Then, with a shout, the Easter eggs were snapped up in minutes, perhaps even seconds.

“There’s thousands of eggs out here,” remarked Hailey Weider, 6, of Snoqualmie, who lined up on the sidelines at Centennial Fields park for her chance at candy.

“I’m going to run as fast as I can to the middle, and pick up as many eggs as I can,” strategized Weider, who remembers the time a few years ago when she only managed one. Eggs always go to the swift.

Hunts in the Upper Valley included the Snoqualmie Valley Moose Club’s 60-year tradition at Si View Park, which drew many children for eggs, candy and a chance at cash prizes in golden eggs.

“We are the champions,” chanted Sydney Russeau, 9, when she and her friends Grace, Jenna and Caroline recovered a gold egg at Centennial Fields.

Jenna, also 9, spotted the egg, but Sydney had the fastest hands. They planned to share their winnings.

The Snoqualmie hunt was sponsored by the Snoqualmie Ridge Residential Owners Association and Snoqualmie Parks and Recreation. The North Bend hunt was sponsored by the Moose lodge.