The evening of March 26, the Rukavina Arena was filled with children and families eagerly escaping the snowstorm by enjoying Easter-themed activities. The event was a fundraiser for William Kelley High School’s After Prom, and was the first of what the After Prom committee hopes to be an annual event.
Upon entering the arena, a volunteer took the admission fee – $10 per child – and families could then explore the activities. On one side of the concession stand was a raffle drawing for various prize baskets. The Blue Bunny and Green Bunny baskets featured a large plush rabbit, and an ice cream pail-sized bucket of Easter goodies. A Pool Party drawing offered a four hour, 25 person party at Black Beach Inn, and the Ride in a Firetruck basket granted the recipient a ride to school in a firetruck. Other baskets were a Lemonade Basket, an Egg Wreath, and multiple Coloring Baskets.
Turning away from the basket raffle, long tables covered in pink tablecloths were set up to the left of the concession stand. The first few tables featured an Easter egg dying station. Dozens of eggs sat on the tables, along with styrofoam bowls of dye in pink, green, yellow, blue, and orange. One child showed me her dyed eggs. “I did a pink one and a blue one, and now I’m doing another blue one.”
The next few tables featured trays of sugar cookies, ready to be decorated. Rustic Inn allowed the use of their kitchen to bake the cookies. Brightly colored frosting and sprinkles were set out, and children enjoyed decorating sugary treats in the shape of Easter eggs and rabbits.
Downstairs, by the ice rink, more activities were set up and manned by high school students. Children tested their balance in a sack race, hopping like rabbits to the finish line, and trying not to trip in their pillowcases. The classic event of carrying an egg on a spoon was expanded upon as well – instead of a hard-boiled egg on a spoon, children carried giant plush eggs on flat ping-pong type paddles, and of course, the plush eggs were vibrantly colored in purple, blue, and lime green. A bowling lane was by the rink, the constant knocking over of pins keeping the high school volunteers busy picking them up.
The Easter bunny also made an appearance, posing for pictures with children by the ice rink. Not all children were eager to meet the Easter bunny, but those that were immensely enjoyed it. A beanbag game was the last activity downstairs, with cans stacked like a pyramid, at which children could throw beanbags. One very young child was disappointed that her beanbag didn’t hit the cans, so she kicked them over instead, satisfied that she has succeeded in her own way.
At about 6:00 p.m., the egg hunt began. Children were divided into age categories, with the youngest ones going first. They ran to and from, collecting up to thirteen eggs each.
On a Tuesday that was so snowy, the After Prom Easter event was a big hit for families who got out to spend time with others in their community.
