Hoppy days are here again.
It’s Eastertime and, while it’s not the conventional celebration everyone’s used to due to COVID, the Warmland Church in Crofton and its sponsors are putting on a special event Saturday, April 3 that ensures children will still have a memorable time and enjoy plenty of treats.
“Like everybody else during COVID, be creative,” said Warmland Church senior pastor Scott Carruthers.
So instead of the massive Easter egg hunt on the Crofton ball fields that attracts hundreds of kids each year and included an Easter bunny chase, a unique Crofton kids’ Easter drive-by bunny hop has been devised.
Today’s kids might never have heard of a sock hop, but this bunny hop concept is sure to catch on until we get through COVID.
The Easter bunny is excited and ready to greet the kids who will sit back and enjoy the ride in their parents’ vehicles Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“It sure is fun hopping around town and seeing all the kids,” said the bunny. “I’ve never been so hoppy.”
Somebunny is going to be famous during the day as the star attraction.
The route starts at the Crofton Fire Hall.
“We’ll give people a little bit of time in between,” said Carruthers. “We’re hoping not everybody shows up at 11. We want to spread it out.”
Don’t worry, folks, there will be lots of goodies for everyone even if you come later.
The Crofton Fire Department, Galletto’s Market & Deli and the Crofton Community Centre are sponsors alongside the Warmland Church, with Camp Qwanoes and Camp Imadene lending support.
All the details are available at www.warmland.org and people can pre-register by going to the website.
Here’s how it works: people can visit 10 different hop locations along a central route in Crofton for the Easter bunny’s treats. Everyone must stay in their cars while driving up to each hop. Roll your windows down and extend your Easter basket for a treat.
Keep your eyes open for sightings of the Warmland Easter bunny who could just pop up at any time in any place.
There will be some amazing prizes inside specially-marked eggs. Prizes and goodie bags are located at the final stop on the hop, No. 10.
“At one of the stations if they want to bring food, non-perishables, they can do that as well,” said Carruthers.
That is also at Hop No. 10 where donations are accepted for the Harvest House Food Bank that operates out of the Warmland Church on Monday mornings.
At Hop No. 8, bottles and cans can be donated to go towards camp scholarships for kids in Crofton.
“Every station, there’s treats and candies and all that and there’s secret surprises,” added Carruthers.
A complete bunny hop map and do-it-yourself Easter basket instructions can be found on the website.
All workers at the 10 stations will be following COVID safety protocols with masks, gloves and other necessities to keep everyone safe.
It’s also being encouraged for people to decorate their cars and create a parade-like atmosphere. There will be a prize for the best decorated car as well.
It’s not quite the same as the massive crowds on the ball fields running around in the quest for treats, but certainly the next best thing until that returns.
“It’s doing what we can,” Carruthers emphasized.
So hop to it, Crofton, and make it an Easter to remember despite the pandemic. Other pop-up Easter bunnies in neighbourhoods are expected around the Chemainus and Crofton areas to make up for the loss of the usual celebrations.
