The 14th-annual Easter Eggstravaganza, hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and underwritten by Honor Credit Union, will be held Saturday, April 12, in and around the Beckwith Park in downtown Dowagiac.

Jessica Kehrer and Bonnie Ferrier, event co-chairmen, said Honor Credit Union has been a proud sponsor of the springtime children’s event for the past five years, during which time staff members have served as on-site volunteers.  “Honor Credit Union strives to make a positive impact in our community,” Kehrer said.  Members of our staff enjoy participating in community activities and each year we look forward to the spring celebration.”

The event features the annual “Be a Bunny” costume contest at 11:30 a.m. at the Beckwith Park. Kehrer said costumed bunnies and their parents should gather beneath the Haggin-Wimberley Memorial Bandstand beginning at 11:15 for the contest that awards prizes for the best overall costume, most colorful and most original.

Costumed characters, along with Miss Dowagiac Mackenzie Whitmyer and her Court of Honor will be on hand to greet children.

“Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras and are invited to take pictures of their children as they visit with the Easter Bunny at Who Knew? Consignment, beginning at 9:30,” Kehrer said.

For the fifth consecutive year, children who visit the consignment store will receive a complimentary bag to use at the egg hunt.

Kehrer and her volunteers are stuffing 8,000 pieces of wrapped candy and trinkets into the 4,000 brightly-colored plastic eggs that will await youngsters that morning. Staff and volunteers of the City’s Department of Public Services will help set up the egg hunt.

Corporate sponsors of the event also include: Booth’s Country Florist & Gifts, Clean Cut L&L, Creative Vinyl Signs, Division Tire & Battery, Flint’s Auto Repair, JAC Custom Pouches, Kappa Beta Sorority, NAPA, Oil Can Alley, Ramona Recreation and Who Knew? Consignment.

“Traditionally, Easter Eggstravaganza marks the official arrival of springtime to our community,” Kehrer said. In case of thunderstorms or snow, activities will be held on the following Saturday at the same time. The celebration is one of several seasonal events of the Chamber of Commerce.