Drysdale's bunny trail
By Chris Simon

About 500 families attended Drysdale's annual Easter Egg Hunt, which took place over three days last weekend. There were plenty of activities for children, including face painting, a Zoo Tek exotic animal show and the hunt.

Easter at Drysdale's is becoming a family tradition.

From exotic animals to face painting and food, there was plenty to do at the Essa Township tree farm this weekend, during Drysdale's annual Easter Egg Hunt. Children searched for the plastic eggs, then turned them in to staff for treats, were able to pat exotic animals like snakes, a gigantic bunny and a hedgehog. Families could also take wagon rides, enter a maze, and watch a magic show, said owner Doug Drysdale.

"We have the facilities, we've got this beautiful greenhouse," he said. "You can do all the things you could not do if you were at a place where they don't have the facilities. They go out to the field, collect the Easter eggs, come back and see two shows. They can get their faces painted, it's all included in admission."

About 500 families attended the three day event. Drysdale says the sunny weather helped contribute to the success of the event.

"We don't know how many people are going to come," he said. "When the weather's as nice as it has been this weekend, it's great.

The hunt has become an annual event for many families living in the area.

"Word of mouth is our greatest advertising," he said. "Our business has always tried to strive for the best value. We want you to come back next year and think of us first. There are a number of people who have been here before. As the generations get older, there are a number of people who were here 15 years ago that are bringing their children now."

Drysdale says the event provides great value for families.

"If you take your family to a movie, the ticket is the cheap part. By the time they eat ... when you take five people to a movie, you've spent $60," he said. "What do I get out of it? In an hour and a half, the movie's over. The memory of that movie is gone, whereas the memory of this sticks around, sometimes, forever. They'll remember this for a long time. There's stuff here that they wouldn't see anywhere else."

Photos by Chris Simon