New Holland Lions Club member Dustin Spencer easily recalls taking part in an egg hunt in the New Holland park in the early 1990s when he was just a child. "I remember the ambulance sounding the alarm and the kids going (to hunt the eggs)," said Spencer, who is now one of the organizers of the annual Lion Club's egg hunt.

This year's egg hunt will take place in the New Holland Community Memorial Park in the 400 block of Jackson Street, New Holland, on Saturday, April 8, beginning at 10 a.m. The hunt, which will take place rain or shine, will be held on the south side of Jackson Street in front of the swimming pool.

According to Spencer, participation in the event is for children age 11 and under. Members of the Lions will arrive at 8 a.m. to put the eggs out, and they will also divide the field into several sections for different ages. "It's all roped off, and there's signage for age groups," explained organizer Mitch Dissinger.

Preparation for the hunt begins several weeks before, when Spencer purchases enough candy to fill 4,000 plastic eggs. "The New Holland Boy Scouts of Troop 48 help us stuff Easter eggs," said Spencer, who added that this year the stuffing will take place at the Boy Scout building on Roberts Avenue a few weeks prior to the event.

A few of the eggs will be stuffed with coins instead of candy. "One person does that," said Lions Club secretary James Bronson, who noted that those eggs are spread out carefully amongst the others. "That way all the money isn't in the same spot," he explained.

In Spencer's recollection, the New Holland Ambulance siren blew to kick off the hunt, but for the last several years, a member of the New Holland Police Department has done the honors. "The police come and sound the siren, and the kids go and visit the (officer) at the car when the hunt is done," he said. "It's pretty cool." Children who participate drop their empty eggs back off before leaving the park. Last year, about 100 children took part, and the Lions hope to see even more this year.

As in the past, the Eastern Lancaster County Library will have a display at the event. "Ms. Sylvia from the library will add to the festivities at the Lions egg hunt by providing free books for children and other library goodies," said library director Anna D'Agostino.

The New Holland Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. at Yoder's Restaurant the second Tuesday of each month. The 18-member group will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025. Individuals who are interested in joining may contact Bronson at lionjbron@yahoo.com. For more information, readers may search for "New Holland Lions Club" on Facebook.