Scrambling for Eggs

On a highway somewhere between here and Southern California, 15,000 Easter eggs recently fell out of a UPS truck and broke.

But instead of a stretch of multicolor scrambled eggs, the highway was only the depository of a lot of brightly colored plastic, on its way to Lake Las Vegas for the third annual Easter Egg-stravaganza, set for Saturday and Sunday at MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson.

All of the eggs were replaced and there will be 25,000 of them for children 12 and younger to hunt Sunday at 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

Many of the plastic eggs will contain candy, while some 150 golden eggs will contain prizes, such as complimentary meals at Lake Las Vegas restaurants, says Sally Dewhurst, Lake Las Vegas events manager.

A work force of volunteers from the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation will hide the eggs, and proceeds from the event will go to that organization. Admission to the egg hunt is $2.

Thousands of children have attended the previous Egg-stravaganzas, and they're expected back again this year. "It's a lot of fun," Dewhurst says. "We have a lot of parents on the sidelines, and parents who run around with the kids" looking for eggs.

In addition, a petting zoo and pony rides will provide entertainment from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A $2 fee will be charged for the rides.

And the Easter bunny, played by a professional, will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Kids can have their picture taken with the bunny for $10.

Other Easter events:

• Easter Seals of Southern Nevada will host its second annual 5K Bunny Run & 1-Mile Bunny Hop, open to all ages, Saturday at the W. Wayne Bunker Family Park at Tenaya Way and Alexander Road.

Sign ups are from 6 to 7:30 a.m. with the run-hop set to go off at 8 a.m.

The registration fee is $35 the day of the event.

Proceeds will go to Easter Seals Southern Nevada.

Wheelchair and walker users can participate. Children younger than 12 will hunt for tickets to win prizes after the run.

For more information, call 870-7050.

• The annual Easter Cultural Festival will take place Saturday at the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave.

Sponsored by the Performing Arts Division of the city of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services, the event is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. with family activities, live entertainment including a mariachi band and ballet folklorico dance troupe, plus bilingual information booths and an appearance by the Easter Bunny.

Admission is free. For more information, call 229-1515.

• And at James Gay Park, B Street and Owens Avenue, the free Super Saturday Celebration, an all-ages event that includes a miniature egg hunt, games, clown art, a jump house, face painting, live entertainment by bands, a DJ, dance and step teams, will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Refreshments will be available.

For more information, call 229-2158 or 229-4829.