Five Easter egg hunts on Long Island

An egg seeker fills his basket at an Easter egg hunt in Oakdale. Credit: Handout
Nothing says spring like children scampering across the grass in search of Easter eggs.
One person who understands spring and kids is Huntington Town councilman Mark Cuthbertson, whose office hosted an inaugural egg hunt at Heckscher Park last year.
"It was a beautiful spring day, and we probably had three times more children than we expected," Cuthbertson remembers.
In response, his office has implemented changes that are expected to make things run more smoothly this year -- asking attendees to preregister online and dividing the hunts into age-specific sessions. The hunt also is scheduled on a weekday instead of a weekend.
"During spring break week, parents are looking for things to do with their children," Cuthbertson says. "We hope this will become something people will look forward to."
Here are five spots to go hunting for eggs:
North Babylon
WHEN | WHERE noon-2 p.m. Saturday, with hunts every 15 minutes, Belmont Lake State Park, North Babylon
INFO 631-321-3510
COST $8 parking
GOODIES Pony rides, a petting zoo, hunts by age groups (4 and younger, 5-6 and 7-9). Bring your own baskets.
WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Saturday, (rain date Sunday), Magnolia Boulevard and West Bay Drive, Long Beach
INFO 516-431-3890
COST Free
GOODIES Suitable for kids ages 9 and younger, the 50th annual hunt will be broken down into half-hour blocks by age, and prizes will be awarded in all age groups. Bring your own baskets.
Oakdale
WHEN | WHERE Noon Saturday, Great Lawn at Dowling College,
Idle Hour Blvd., Oakdale
INFO 631-750-5515, oakdalebiz.org
COST Free
GOODIES Open to ages 8 and younger, egg hunts will be split into four groups: toddlers, ages 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8). The Easter Bunny will hop on by. Event will be held rain or shine.
Oyster Bay
WHEN | WHERE 10:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday, rain or shine, Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center, Oyster Bay. Registration required.
INFO 516-922-3200, ny.audubon.org/trsac.htm
COST $8 per child (adults free)
GOODIES Children ages 2 to 10 can create their own decorated baskets and hunt for eggs along the trails. Hunts at 10:30 a.m. (ages 2-3 only), and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. (for ages 2-10).
WHEN | WHERE 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday (rain cancels), Heckscher Park, Huntington. Advance registration required.
INFO 631-351-2877, tohparks.com
COST Donation of a nonperishable food item
GOODIES Geared toward ages 1-8, egg-gathering sessions will be held every 20 minutes and divided into age groups (1-3, 4-6, 7-8). Participants must have a time-ticketed receipt to participate. Event includes face-painting and crafts.