By Staff
A rainbow of brightly-colored Easter eggs will soon be hitting the check-out counters of participating Dowagiac shops and restaurants, as the fourth annual Easter SALES Eggstravaganza draws near.
Hosted by Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, the springtime sales promotion invites shoppers to crack open an Easter egg to special savings Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, and on Sunday at some locations.
According to Vickie Phillipson, Chamber of Commerce and DDA program director, the sales promotion is part of the Easter Eggstravaganza celebration, which also features an old-fashioned Easter egg hunt for children and kids games at Beckwith Park on Saturday, April 12.
Phillipson said each of the participating merchants will decide how to distribute their supply of coupon-stuffed eggs.
At some locations, a purchase may be required before cracking open an egg, while some locations may opt to distribute their eggs to each and every customer who walks into their store until supplies run out.
Participating sites include: Majerek's Hallmark, The Marshall Shoppe, Vincent J. Jewelers, Caruso's Candy Kitchen, Auntie's Closet, The Hairitage and BT's Pub at Sister Lakes.
In-store specials vary from 10 to 50 percent off that day's purchase, to restaurant specials at Caruso's and BT's Pub. At four undisclosed locations, patrons will crack open a special egg to win a $25 Universal Dowagiac Gift Certificate, presented by the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority, which can be used at more than 200 locations in Dowagiac or at Sister Lakes.
Children's activities open Saturday, April 12, at 10:45 a.m. at the Beckwith Park as judging for the fourth-annual "Be a Bunny" costume contest begins. The Chamber of Commerce will award Easter baskets to first, second and third-place winners.
The Easter egg hunt, co-sponsored by Felpausch Food Center, gets underway at 11 a.m. in and around the Beckwith Park, where youngsters can also enjoy springtime games, chalk art and face painting beginning at 11:15 a.m. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. The Easter Bunny, sponsored by Booth's Country Florist and Auntie's Closet, will be available for pictures, free of charge, from 11:15 a.m. to noon.
The Chamber of Commerce will present free springtime activity books to the first 100 youngsters who have their pictures taken. In case of bad weather, children's events will be held the following Saturday.