BERRIEN COUNTY — This weekend and next, children across Niles and Buchanan can scramble to find Easter eggs stuffed with candy and prizes at a number of community hosted events.

The Niles Elks Lodge will host its annual Easter Egg hunt from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at 1322 Canal St. Those infant to 11 years old are invited to participate in the Easter egg hunt.

Each age group will have a designated area to search for eggs in. Those ages 1 to 3 will have a special indoor area for Easter egg hunting with pools filled with Easter grass and eggs. Other age groups will be able to hunt for eggs outside.

Julie Clark, the Elks Lodge trustee and chair, said the Easter egg hunt is an Elks tradition that has existed for more than 15 years. Volunteers spend several hours stuffing about 3,000 eggs. The Greater Niles Federal Credit Union helped this year and stuffed about 600 eggs.

Volunteers’ hard work is typically undone in about 20 minutes during the hunt, but Clark said it is worth it to see the children happy.

“It is surprising how quick it goes,” Clark said. “It is something we do every year because we want to give back to the children in the community. It is fun for them to get out.”

Several other Niles Easter egg hunts will take place this weekend and next and are listed below.

In Buchanan, the Department of Public Works has offered to pick up the more than 25-year tradition of a community Easter Egg hunt.

The event will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Saturday March 24, at Centennial Park in Buchanan. Those interested are advised to arrive at 10:45 a.m. The Easter egg hunt will have areas to hunt for those ages 3 to sixth grade.

JT Adkerson, the public service director for the city of Buchanan, said he heard earlier this year that the traditional host of the event was no longer going to be able to coordinate the Easter egg hunt. Determined to not let the longstanding tradition die, Adkerson said city employees stepped up to offer their volunteer services.

“It was one of those community events that our employees didn’t want to let go,” Adkerson said. “Many [of them] have kids themselves and it is something that they felt very strongly about.”

Volunteers from the Department of Public Works, in coordination with other city volunteers and local business sponsors, have spent hours stuffing more than 9,000 plastic eggs with candy that will be ready to be hunted this weekend.

Adkerson, who said his own children participated in the event when they were little, said he is looking forward to seeing the smiles of youth and their families during the event.

Local Easter Egg hunts:

NILES

• 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 24, at the Niles Elks Lodge, 1322 Canal St. Age groups are: 1 to 3 years, indoors; 4 to 7 years, outdoors east and 8 to 11 years outdoors west.

• 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at Fairland Christian Church of Niles, 1811 River Bluff. This event is made available to children through age 12. Cost: Free. For more information, contact Tom Gamble, associate minister, at (269) 683-8211.

BUCHANAN

• 11 a.m. Saturday March 24, at Centennial Park in Buchanan.