EGGS GALORE!

More than 1,000 on hand for Great Schuylerville Egg Hunt

Schuylerville High School’s football field was a danger zone for anyone standing in the way of hundreds of little kids who stampeded the turf to scoop up colorful, candy-filled Easter eggs on Saturday.

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have done a better job.

More than 1,000 people from parts near and wide turned out for the event, held on a classic earlyspring morning beneath bright sunny skies.

“It’s like a tsunami wave, I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Chris Winn of Westerly, R.I., who was on hand with his wife, Ashley, and their four children -- Kailyn, Levi, Lilah and Greyson. “I can’t believe how fast those eggs got picked up.”

However, this year’s Great Schuylerville Egg Hunt wouldn’t have happened without cooperation from village officials along with local civic groups and businesses. The event was founded almost 10 years ago by Faith Chapel, but had grown so large that church members couldn’t manage it themselves.

“I’m pleased that the mayor and other people were able to save this wonderful event because it almost was lost,” said Leona Colvin, a lifelong Schuylerville resident. “We’re thrilled they were able to do it.”

The event opened with a brief message by Faith Chapel pastor, the Rev. Jason Proctor.

Then the first wave of children, 3-and-under, ran out to fill their baskets with plastic eggs.

Colvin, standing on the sideline, quickly lost sight of her grand-niece, Chayton Fifield, and grand-nephew, Colden Helwig, in the sea of happy faces.

“But I’m sure they’re having a ball,” Colvin said, smiling.

More than 12,000 colored plastic eggs were needed for the event, all filled with candy treats such as Starburst fruit chews.

Schuylerville secondgraders filled 6,000 of the eggs as part of a lesson in mathematics and civic participation. The rest were filled by adult volunteers.

“I’m happy with the turnout and glad to see the commitment of the community to make this happen,” Mayor Dan Carpenter said. “It’s a great event for all the folks here.”

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Kids scramble to pick up candy-filled plastic Easter eggs on Saturday at the Schuylerville High School football field.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM Kathleen and Chris Lynch of Ballston Spa, and their children Lily and Mason, were among the many people from throughout the area who took part in the Great Schuylerville Egg Hunt on Saturday.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM There were lots of smiling faces at the Great Schuylerville Egg Hunt on Saturday. Gianna Knowlton of Glens Falls, second from left, is joined by her cousins -- left to right -- Levi, Lilah, Greyson and Kailyn Winn of Westerly, R.I. Mayor Dan Carpenter...

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM More than 12,000 candy-filled plastic Easter eggs were scattered on the Schuylerville High School football field where kids raced to pick them up on Saturday.

PAUL POST — PPOST@DIGITALFIRSTMEDIA.COM More than 1,000 people took part in the Great Schuylerville Egg Hunt on Saturday including Abbie Gollis, joined by Emma, Tyler and Olivia Campbell.