Families filled the lawn outside the Civic Center on Friday as the Pine Bluff Police Department hosted its annual Easter egg hunt, drawing hundreds of participants for an afternoon of food, fun and community connection.
The event featured egg hunts for children up to age 16, along with a special hunt just for adults. Families enjoyed free food, games, prizes and music, while children lined up to meet characters including the Easter Bunny and Minnie Mouse and watch balloon creations come to life.
Organizer Shirley Warrior, assistant police chief, said the strong turnout was especially meaningful given recent challenges in the community.
“I was so glad to see the community come out,” Warrior said. “We’ve been dealing with grief and tragedy in our community and it forced us to come out and just celebrate each other and give the kids some enjoyment. Sometimes we forget about the kids.”
Planning for the event began months in advance, with organizers starting preparations in January while keeping a close eye on the weather. Despite concerns about rain earlier in the week, the event went on as planned.
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“We do it every year and we start watching forecasts,” Warrior said. “We didn’t know if we were going to have to do a drive-through next Sunday, but the thought behind the egg hunt is just bringing the community together.”
This year’s event included several new elements, including expanded prize offerings, different food options such as supreme meat nachos and additional activities. More than 2,500 plastic eggs filled with candy were distributed, along with 50 dozen real boiled eggs and 250 prize eggs. Organizers also placed $400 worth of cash prizes in select eggs.
Warrior said the behind-the-scenes work was extensive.
“I was up until 1 o’clock last night boiling the eggs and dyeing them,” she said.
In total, about 25 officers and 15 community volunteers helped organize and run the event, ensuring safety measures were in place. Preparations included spraying for insects, cutting grass, filling potholes and leveling areas of the lawn.
Beyond the fun, Warrior emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community.
“We want them to see we’re people too,” she said. “Part of respect is engaging in the community, treating them the way we want to be treated. These are our kids. We get to know them and they get to know us.”
For attendees like Vivian Wright, the event delivered exactly what it promised.
“I thought it was wonderful … such a big turnout, lots of children here, lots of parents and grandparents,” Wright said. “We brought three children, and we really had a wonderful time.”
Wright also joined in on the adult egg hunt.
“I ran up and got a few because my grandchild had a lot, but I actually got an egg that had a prize, and that was fun,” she said.
She praised the organization of the event and the variety of activities offered.
“They had plenty and it was very organized,” Wright said. “They even had characters like the Easter Bunny and Minnie Mouse. It was just nice that our kids recognized them.”
Teenagers who participated said it was especially meaningful to be included, noting that many Easter egg hunts typically focus on younger children. Organizers extended participation up to age 16, giving older youth an opportunity to take part in the tradition alongside younger family members.
As for next year, Wright said she hopes to see more of the same.
“I don’t know how they can even get it any better,” she said.
Warrior said the department plans to continue building on events like the Easter egg hunt, including the return of its Police and Youth (PAY) Camp, a summer program designed to keep children engaged and active.
“We’re grateful,” Warrior said. “Families didn’t have to come out on a Friday at noon, but they chose to come here. That means everything to us.”
