An egg seeker fills his basket at an Easter egg...

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.

Long Beach

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).

Huntington

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.

4th OF JULY

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