An Egg-cellent Time

A group of eager youngsters got a jump on a sweet upcoming spring holiday at the Bunny Hoppin' Easter Event.

Held recently at East Naples Community Park, the event saw the kids enjoy crafts, games and prizes, pizza, juice and other refreshments, music, a sack race, and of course, an Easter egg hunt. 

Aside from the non-stop fun, there were two other constants: broad smiles and excited voices possessed by the pre-K to grade school age children who attended and the adults who accompanied them. 

“This is great,” said Zacquela Williams, who was there with her daughter, Cassandra Williams, age nine. “I love that the kids can get out and have some fun for the holiday,” which is officially April 20. “It's nice to see the kids interact with each other.”

For Kathy Topoleski, the county park’s program supervisor, the thrill remains the same after 23 years at the facility. 

“It’s just seeing the kids smile, especially when they get their big prizes,” she said. “They love it. All the smiley faces and seeing the parents - they’re so gracious and happy that we do these types of events.”

Seeing children of different races and ethnicities playing together is one of the benefits of such events, in the eyes of Lu Ismail, who was there with his four-year-old daughter, Luna. 

“It's lovely, man,” he said. “The kids have the chance to venture out, meet other kids. Me, I say let’s be more social and get away from the color thing. This kind of thing breaks down the barriers.”