Every year, the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce hosts two Easter egg hunts for the children of the county – except for this year. This year, the chamber has added a third egg hunt to its offerings.

As usual, Easter egg hunts will be held in Russellville and Red Bay, but this year, another egg hunt will be offered in Phil Campbell.

Chamber board member Lynn Landers, who is also a Phil Campbell councilmember, suggested the additional egg hunt, which will be held in the Memorial Park in downtown.

“I felt like a lot of the kids were missing out on something,” Landers said. “Phil Campbell is part of Franklin County too, and I didn’t see why we couldn’t join in with the chamber.”

The Russellville hunt will be held April 8 at 10 at Eastside. The Red Bay hunt will also be held April 8, at 2 p.m. in Bay Tree Park. The Phil Campbell hunt will be held the following Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m.

Chamber of Commerce Director Cassie Medley said the Easter eggs were originally devised as “a way for the Chamber to give back to the community.”

“This event is the perfect opportunity to be involved county wide,” Medley said. “It’s is a way to give back to those who are the future of our county.” It’s also, Landers added, a great way to get families outdoors for a positive family experience.

The hunts are designed for children in 5^th grade and below. Hundreds of eggs at each hunt will be filled with candy, and each hunt will feature a number of “prize eggs,” with small amounts of monetary prizes.

“It’s just another small for way for the chamber to give back to our local communities. We always have a great time doing it,” said chamber board President Mark McNatt.

Medley said the hunts always draw dozens up to hundreds of children, in addition to special guest, the Easter Bunny – portrayed by a Junior Leader. In addition to tasty treats and prize eggs, one attraction is the drawing for bicycles as grand prizes, which is an annual feature of the Easter egg hunts.

“Our business and industry partners always step up each year to donate bicycles,” McNatt said. He encouraged event-goers to be sure and arrive early enough to enter their names in the drawing.

“The kids are always excited,” McNatt said. “It’s always fun.”

Participants should bring their own baskets for collecting eggs.

Franklin County Easter egg hunts

• Russellville: April 8, 10 a.m., at Eastside Ballpark
• Red Bay: April 8, 2 p.m., at Bay Tree Park
• Phil Campbell: April 15, 2 p.m., at the Memorial Park