Fort Ritchie hosted its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday, April 19, drawing families from the community to the parade field for a festive afternoon. Organizers spread 9,000 eggs across the field for children ages 12 and younger, each filled with candy and sweet surprises.
Volunteers began preparing for the event April 1, stuffing eggs with donated candy at the Community Center. The Easter Bunny greeted children for photos, while the Antietam Dairy ice cream truck sold treats throughout the event.
The egg hunt was divided by age groups, with the youngest participants, ages 0 to 2, starting at 1 p.m. The 3- to 5-year-olds followed at 1:05 p.m., then the 6- to 8-year-olds at 1:10 p.m., and finally the 9- to 12-year-olds at 1:15 p.m.
Washington County Health staff distributed flyers on car seat safety, physical activity, healthy eating and bicycle safety. Children received free bags containing items such as sunscreen.
The event offered families a safe, fun environment to celebrate the holiday and learn about community health resources.
