Watching the Spring Bunny visit local children at their homes recently was very much like watching children meet Santa Claus during the Christmas season.

Chauffeured by Parks & Recreation Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano, the oversized costumed bunny visited 70 homes between Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21. For some children, it was a great surprise. They ran to the plush costumed character, smiled, hugged the bunny, even offered high fives.

For other children, it was not as easy. Some stood back, just not sure how to take in the very large rabbit that was suddenly on their turf. Some hid behind parents, while others had older siblings who tried to show them that the furry visitor was, in fact, their friend.

Most ended up approaching the guest before the bunny departed for its next stop.

By late Sunday afternoon, dozens of homes had been visited. Hundreds of children received an early visit, and the new event was definitely a success.

After cancelling last year’s annual spring egg hunt due to coronavirus concerns — and not wanting to leave local children without a spring event for another year — Parks & Recreation this year devised something new. They literally took the holiday to the children.

In a white minivan decked out with window clings, a pair of bunny ears attached to windows, and colorful plastic eggs dangling from mirrors, Spring Bunny was able to ride comfortably last weekend.

As they arrived at each home, the bunny would emerge from the passenger side of the van and approach families. Bunny was celebrating spring, but it was also cognizant of the times: This year the bunny was outfitted with its own face mask, thanks to the handiwork of Kim Da’Mico.

Meanwhile, Reggiano would be ready with filled plastic eggs to be strewn around each yard.

Parents were invited in early March to register through Parks & Rec for “Egg Dash At Your Home,” which included having Spring Bunny drop by to spend up to ten minutes visiting with their children and doing photos, and having the filled plastic eggs delivered, all for a nominal fee.

The weekend’s routes took Reggiano and Spring Bunny to all corners of town. The pair started on Elm Drive at 9 am, Saturday, and covered hundreds of miles and 34 stops before finishing for the day on Covered Bridge Road around 4:30 pm.

Sunday’s route was just as diverse, beginning again at 9 am, this time with a home on John Beach Road, and continuing again through three dozen stops before concluding just before 5 pm on High Rock Road.

Reggiano and Spring Bunny were fatigued, but very happy, by the end of the weekend.

“A few people have said this is better than going to the mall,” Reggiano said Sunday afternoon with a big, tired smile.

The families that participated in this year’s event were also entered into a raffle for a family pack of prizes including a Candy Land game, spring activities, candy, and more. Twelve names were selected on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s like finding the Golden Egg in a hunt,” Reggiano said Tuesday afternoon.

The winners, as announced by Reggiano, were Erin Antolini, Wendy DeCarlo, Nathan Fox, Brett Freeman, Jonathan Goll, Maria Marulanda, Sheila Miller, Penelope Neylon, Joel Nystrom, Kristen Solt, Kristi Svendsen, and Lexi Young.