Dozens of children lined up near the door eagerly waiting for the moment they would be set free.

Through the glass they could see outside hundreds of Easter eggs placed throughout the courtyard at Riveridge Manor Nursing Home in Niles.

When the door opened they sprinted out, some laughing, to get as many eggs as possible.

Riveridge Manor resident Dolores Poledna watched it all from her wheelchair Friday afternoon.

“This is a lot of fun,” she said.

Riveridge has been holding the Easter egg hunt the past several years. Activities Director Kathi Johnson said it is a great reason for families to visit their loved ones in the nursing home.

“The residents like to show off their grandkids,” she said.

Prior to the Easter egg hunt, children had a chance to win soda and candy by playing games like ring toss and bucket toss.

Ten-year-old Hannah Feltes played ring toss while holding onto 1-year-old Liam Beck. Feltes was visiting her great-grandpa, Basil Anglin, a resident there.

Residents helped fill the plastic eggs for the egg hunt with candy. Some eggs contained numbers good for special prizes. The candy and prizes were provided by Riveridge and through donations.

“It’s all about bringing the family together for the holiday,” said Jessica Rogers, Riveridge community liaison.