BUNNY SIGHTING
Furry Easter mascot visits with families at Merrymead Farm
WORCESTER >> Under sunny skies, parents and grandparents eager for their kids to hobnob with the Easter Bunny at Merrymead Farm on Friday formed a line that curled around tables loaded up with spring’s vibrant bounty. The Easter Bunny returned to visit Saturday as well.
Primroses, tulips, geraniums, Gerbera daisies and more enticed the crowd outside the retail market famous for its farm-produced dairy to baked goods, while inside seasonal specialties like carrot cake and bunny cakes with coconut “fur” specially ordered from Lancaster County were claimed for their holiday tables.
Amie Passarelli had traveled to the farm from Graterford so that twins Leah and Morgan could meet the Easter Bunny.
“We came out to see the Easter bunny and do a little shopping,” Passarelli said.
The girls sat calmly on EB’s lap as their mom captured the moment provided by Merrymead free of charge in a few festive holiday photos.
A few kids that day didn’t share the twins’ serene acceptance of the oversized grinning white rabbit, who maintains a low-key demeanor at all times.
“We’ve had a few meltdowns
today,” noted Kelsey Givler, a fifth generation family member who handles most of the media matters, as she handed out lollipops.
“Some kids love meeting the Easter Bunny and some hate it,” Givler added. “Some kids are kind of unsure, so mom and dad have to sit with them.”
Folks like Jen Harper of Collegeville, who took the day off from work to give her 4-year-old son some EB time, noted their gratitude to the Merrymead operators for throwing the annual springtime bash.
“It’s nice to have something
like this so close to home,” Harper said.
Givler is accustomed to hearing the thankful comments from loyal Merrymead fans.
“It’s a spring break and people are looking for things to do, so we give them the opportunity to come out on a beautiful day, spend time with their families and see the animals on the farm, enjoy some ice cream and meet the Easter bunny,” she said.
Givler’s mom, Donna Quigley, pointed out the importance of preventing boredom in kids as they line up for their brief interlude with the Easter bunny.
“They have the chicks and the animals to look at, and they can enjoy ice cream too,” she said. “We’re lucky to have such beautiful weather this year on the day the Easter bunny is here.”