Easter Parade

ARROW ROCK — The temperature never rose above 40 degrees, the sky looked like rain and the 20 mph winds threatened to blow a few hats off, but the residents of Arrow Rock were unfazed Sunday. This was their annual Easter Parade and egg hunt, and nothing was going to ruin it.

“I’ve lived in Arrow Rock 77 years, and we’ve been doing this parade for the past 15 years,” said Mary Burge, who won a prize for most historical outfit. “I haven’t missed one yet.”

Residents ages 2 weeks to 79 years old were in attendance. Many dressed up for the occasion in their favorite Easter hat, decorated with every kind of Easter material available, including plastic eggs, flowers, Easter grass, baskets, stuffed rabbits and rabbit ears. After the parade, prizes were given out to the craziest hat, prettiest hat, funniest hat, silliest hat, youngest hat-wearer, oldest hat-wearer and best dressed animal.

“I like Arrow Rock, and I like going to the Easter parade every year,” said 8-year-old Aubree Heying, of La Monte. “The egg hunt is my favorite thing to do, but I like the Easter bunny too.”

After all the prizes were given out, children and parents lined up for the egg hunt. Some of the younger children eyed the plastic eggs with suspicion, not sure what to make of them, while others wandered out onto the grass before the signal had been called, their parents pulling them back.

Someone in the background yelled, “Go!” and the older kids were off, running toward the eggs, scooping them up and quickly dropping them into their basket before running to the next egg. Many younger children stopped hunting after their first egg, content to sit on the grass and play with it, while their parents surrounded them with digital and video cameras, capturing every minute.

“We usually come to the Easter parade every year,” said Charles Cooper, of Marshall. “We’ve got a place in Arrow Rock, so it’s nice that the kids and adults have something to do.”

“We’re just a historical town that celebrates fun and family,” said Burge.