Children and families hopped into the spring season for an early opportunity to celebrate Easter in Mokena.
With the holiday right around the corner, hundreds took their pick at the festivities to celebrate during the Mokena Community Public Library’s second annual Easter Fun at the Library April 1.
Director of Young Adult Services Wendy Asbridge said the library is excited to help people get a start on celebrating Easter.
“We started it last year,” she said. “We thought it would be fun for the kids.”
For one Saturday, the scene at the library was primed for an Easter celebration, as people enjoyed an all-ages egg hunt, face painting, balloon artists and photographs with the bunny. More than 300 people registered to participate in the festivities, with another 100 dropping in as walk-ins.
Attendee David McGuan, of Homer Glen, said he enjoyed his time spent at the library.
McGuan was waiting in line for his 4-year-old and 2-year-old sons, Ethan and Connor, to get balloon animals. He said dropping in for some fun was a good idea.
“This actually helps with the newer families,” McGuan said. “[We] get to know the neighbors better. We met quite a bit of friends through here. Where I live, [we] don’t have a lot of kids. A place like this helps us mingle with similar age groups and helps us get … our kids involved.”
This year was the McGuan’s second time attending Easter Fun at the Library.
“It’s a good library,” he said.
Sarah Abata, of Mokena, said she and her children were pleased by the activities they found at the library.
“We got our face painted,” she of her children. “That was really fun.
Sarah’s 8-year-old daughter, Annelise Abata agreed.
“I really liked the face painting,” she said.
Abata’s children had also tried their hand at Easter egg hunting and retrieved their prizes. Annelise dove into her Easter egg basket to show and tell of the many candies she collected, pointing out a green Starburst and a chocolate egg.
“I also got two prizes,” she said.
Sarah said it was nice seeing all the different prizes her daughter won.
“She also won a little soccer rubber stamp, and she also plays soccer,” she said. “That was really fun.”
Sarah said the event’s ability to bring the community together is amazing to witness.
“The sense of community [shown by] all these families coming together [is the biggest takeaway,]” she said. “[I] met some really nice moms and dads and their kids around [the library]. It’s been nice to see everybody getting excited for Easter.”
Courtney Robinson, of Mokena, said while she and her sons came for the Easter egg hunt, she was pleased to see all the other activities for kids to enjoy.
“It was nice to see a lot of people out here,” she said, as her sons were getting ready to see the Easter bunny.
Asbridge said holding the Easter-themed event at the library makes sense on a number of levels.
“One of our slogans is we’re more than just books,” she said. “We do a lot of programming. We have a lot of technology here... [It’s] just to get everybody involved and have fun.”
The library is in the middle of considering the prospect of holding another Easter Fun at the Library.
“I think we’re going to head that way next year,” Asbridge said.