Egg Hunt!

Cool, cloudy, wet weather did nothing to dampen enthusiasm at the Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning. The event, hosted by the Mantua Restoration Society, took place at Mantua Center, Ohio. I was invited to photograph the proceedings, and arrived that morning with expectation of low turnout. Instead I found the plaza teeming with families out to have some fun with their children. A fire truck from the Mantua Shalersville Fire Department was on display and became a real magnet for kids. The Civic Center was open for face painting, creating bunny masks, bouncing in the bounce house, posing with the Easter Bunny, and making and enjoying Easter treats. The eggs hunts took place on the green as the other sites were too soggy from the rain. As the signal was given, kids dashed off in a mad scramble to gather candy-filled eggs. Later Lt. Ken Justus of the Mantua Police Department gave a demonstration with his K-9 dog Vader.

There was a wonderful sense of community and togetherness at the event. A rich slice of small-town Americana. I wandered about the venue, meeting new people and seeing old friends. People were gracious as always in allowing me to photograph them. These photos will give you a good sense for what the event was all about.

Written by Dave Dreimiller