COLUMBIA BASIN — The Easter Bunny will be working overtime this weekend, with Easter egg hunts across the Basin on Friday and Saturday.

The fun starts in Ephrata on Friday morning, with a hunt for children 5 and under at Columbia Basin Hospital. Moses Lake and Ephrata both have flashlight egg hunts for the older kids Friday evening. Ephrata’s starts at 8:15 p.m. at Lions Park, which will be split into two areas, one for students in grades 5-8 and the other for grades 9-12. Moses Lake will start its flashlight egg hunt for grades 9-12 at 8 p.m. in McCosh Park.

Saturday will be the big eggstravaganza, with events across the Basin from Almira to Mattawa. One of the largest is held every year at the Moses Lake Sand Dunes and sponsored by the Sand Scorpions off-road club. Originally the club had planned for 20,000 eggs, said Brandon Douglass, one of the event’s organizers, but that figure grew at the last minute.

“We’ve been donated more eggs than expected,” Douglass said. “The last count was 26,000. Then there’s several thousand other little knickknacks and prizes, junk the kids love.”

Last year’s event drew about 400 children, Douglass said. Eggs are hidden over five acres in the red zone on the west side of the Sand Dunes beach.

“If you don’t have a 4x4 vehicle, it’s about a half-mile walk through the sand from the gravel road,” he said. “And it starts at noon sharp, whether you’re there or not.”

Here are additional Easter egg hunts happening in the Basin:

Almira: 11 a.m. at Lions Club Park. The event is sponsored by the Almira Lions Club and will include free hot dogs and snacks. 

Coulee City: 1 p.m. at Coulee City Campground Park. Ages 11 and under are invited and the Easter Bunny will put in a special appearance.

Ephrata: 1 p.m. at Lions Park. Children up to fourth grade.

George: 9 a.m. at the George Community Hall, 403 W. Montmorency. This hunt, sponsored by the Georgettes, is open to ages 0-12. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly. There will be coffee and doughnuts for the grownups.

Grand Coulee: 11 a.m. at the Old Middle School athletic field. For children 0-10 years old.

Mattawa: Noon at Hund Park.

Moses Lake: 12 p.m. at McCosh Park. The space will be divided into age-designated areas for young hunters 0-3, 4-6, 7-10 and 11-12. 

Othello: 2 p.m. at the Lions Park baseball complex. There will be separate zones for walking toddlers, pre-K and kindergartners, first- and second-graders, third- and fourth-graders and fifth- and sixth-graders. Participants should enter from Pine Street as the other entrances will be closed.

Soap Lake: 10 a.m. at Smokiam Park. The hunt is open to ages 0-16.

    Five- and 6-year-olds hop on one foot in search of eggs at the George Easter egg hunt in 2023.
  

    Hundreds of local children turn out to the Sand Scorpions Easter Egg Hunt in 2022. This year’s hunt is at noon Saturday.