Hundreds are expected to turn out Saturday, April 4, for the annual Easter Parade and Egg Hunt sponsored by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. The action takes place rain or shine.
“They can come dressed in their finest Easter clothes or casual or dressed up in costumes. Sometimes people bring wagons with kids in them. It’s just an old-fashioned walking parade,” said the Chamber’s director of operations, Barbara Ransome.
The parade steps off the curb at 12:45 p.m. in front of Theatre Three at 412 Main Street and proceeds to Port Jefferson Village Center, 101A E. Broadway, she said. There children line up immediately after the parade for the hunt at Harborfront Park.
According to Ransome, "We have approximately 2,000 eggs that are distributed through the Great Lawn,” and recovered eggs mean treats for the participants, who must be ages 2 to 8.
Ransome describes the Easter Bunny photo opp, set for 1:15 to 2 p.m., as a popular feature, and she should know. She has worn through two costumes playing EB for the past 28 years.
“I’ve had little ones who now are adults who bring me their little ones. That’s how long my service has been with this parade. It’s just very sweet when new parents bring a young child particularly a toddler or even an infant…. Some of them wrap their arms around my legs like I’m their lost leader.”
Approximately three decades have brought a few changes to this annual tradition, most notably when it is observed—no longer on Easter Sunday but the Saturday prior so that participants can frequent local stores. Additionally, as the event grew, judging costumes became an insurmountable challenge, and had to be discontinued.
For more details on the parade and hunt, all free through the Chamber, visit the website.