Children pet a baby sheep at Winfield Township's Easter Egg Hunt Saturday.

When a group of ordinary citizens got together to plan an Easter egg hunt, they hoped some families would turn out to enjoy the event.

That group was stunned when about 1,500 people turned out at the Winfield Township Eggstravaganza, which was held Saturday at Winfield Township Community Park.

The line to get into the free egg hunt at the township park was seemingly endless, with hundreds of families waiting patiently in a queue that snaked throughout the township building's parking lot and around buildings.

“Someone said, 'Come here, Terri. You have to see the line,'” said event committee member Terri Leslie. “I just sat down and cried.”She said 600 to 700 adults and children received tickets to enter, while others said they only came to watch the egg hunt.Adult tickets were distributed for drawings for 12 gift baskets.For children, stickers were placed on 98 of 15,000 plastic eggs placed on the grass, around township equipment and in small haystacks in the egg-hunting areas.The eggs were filled with candy, coins or a dollar bill, Leslie said, and the stickers were for drawings for the children's gift baskets.All candy and money used to fill the eggs, as well as items for the gift baskets, were donated, she said.

Residents at Concordia Haven 5 at Concordia Lutheran Ministries' senior living apartments on Marwood Road stuffed 4,500 eggs, Leslie said.When the community heard about the egg hunt, donations and help began rolling in.Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company brought a ladder truck for children to check out. A 4-H group brought rabbits, and a farmer brought a lamb for the petting zoo.South Butler Community Library created storyboards for the “Bunny Trail” on the park's walking trail. Knoch High School art students manned the face-painting booth. Local farmer William Thiele provided drone services to get overhead pictures and video of the event. A photographer from the community provided free pictures, and local businesses sponsored any other needs the committee had.The county Amateur Radio Public Service Group parked more than 1,000 cars in a field adjacent to the park, Leslie said.Texas Roadhouse donated 200 coupons for free meals for children, and Subway gave away 400 coupons for a free cookie. The coupons were passed out to those entering until they ran out.The two grand prizes, a complete ham dinner and dessert from Sprankles Neighborhood Market in Saxonburg and a large camping package from B & R Camper Sales in Summit Township, were donated by those businesses.“There were people who reached out to us who we never contacted,” a shocked and delighted Leslie said. “It just kept exploding and getting bigger and bigger.”Leslie's home served as the drop-off point for donations, while she picked up other items.“My phone never stopped,” she said. “I think people just wanted out and wanted to do something with their kids.”

Food trucks provided refreshments for hungry egg hunters and their families as well, and a nonperishable food drive stocked the shelves at the Cabot United Methodist Church Food Bank just down the road, Leslie said.She said while the event was a success beyond any committee member's imagination, the best part of the day was seeing the happy children hunting for eggs.“Watching the kids and the smiles on their faces and listening to them laugh was just heartwarming,” Leslie said. “I get choked up about it.”The Eggstravaganza also meant pandemic-weary families could meet in the fresh spring air and enjoy one another's company.“People wanted out,” Leslie said. “People wanted normalcy.”She said the committee marvels at the fact that it was able to plan the egg hunt in just more than five weeks, as the Saxonburg Easter Egg Hunt was canceled because of the inability to manage pandemic protocol in Roebling Park.Members of the Saxonburg Business Association, which plans the egg hunt in Roebling Park, helped the Winfield committee organize the event, Leslie said.“We are anxious to get going on another event,” Leslie said. “We all had so much fun, and we all got along, so we just want to do it again.”

Children sort through their Easter egg haul at Saturday's Winfield Township Easter Egg Hunt.

Stella Mugo, 1, and her mother meet “Mr. Sheep,” a 2-month-old lamb at Saturday's Winfield Township Easter Egg Hunt.

“Mr. Sheep,” a 2-month-old lamb, greets Stella Mugo, 1, at Saturday's Winfield Township Easter Egg Hunt.