An annual part of the ritual of spring is the Easter egg hunt.

This Saturday, March 27 at 10 a.m. that ritual in Fort Scott will be at Gunn Park, as in years past.  Ages for children who can participate are toddler through grade 5.

Parents can look for signs at the entrance of the park that will direct traffic to shelter house no. 2, which is located between the first and second lake.

The hunt is facilitated each year by the Fort Scott Kiwanis and support from the community.

“This event to me is our most fun event of the year,” Ralph Carlson, spokesman for Kiwanis, said. “To see  the excitement and joy on the faces of our children hunting Easter eggs and visiting with our Easter bunny is amazing.”

“I have been in the Kiwanis Club since 1969 and this Easter Egg Hunt was started before I became a member of the club,” Carlson said. ” Last year the hunt was at a later time of day so parents should pay attention to this earlier time of 10 a.m.”

“One might ask why we do this every year,” Carlson said.  “I am reminded of the 30 years or so the Fort Scott High School performed Handel’s Messiah at Easter time. We had a 500 voice choir, directed by Carl Clinesmith. The choir was so large that we performed from the elevated seating and the audience sat on the main floor facing the elevated seating.”

This, too, was an annual ritual for over 30 years, Carlson said.

“It’s a spring wake-up,” he said.

Fort Scott Kiwanis has 27 members.

“The Kiwanis Club has help from our supporters, Big Sugar Lumber, Heidrick’s True Value, R and R equipment Inc., Don Spirits, Diehl Banwart and Bolton, Merle Humphrey, Fort Scott Cinema, Marsha’s Deli, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, Papa Don’s, and Citizens Bank.”

Sponsors will be recognized at the egg hunt, he said.

“We could not do it without the dedicated and sustaining help from our friends,” Carlson said.