Families will not only get to hug the Easter Bunny at Long Grove’s annual Bunny Hop on April 8, but they’ll also get to meet ponies dressed as lambs and a three-legged duck named Lucky.
“It’s a lovely little creature and he wanders around and is very friendly,” said Tom Clark, board member of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, which is running the free event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Besides the bunny, the duck and the ponies, the Bunny Hop also will include tours inside fire trucks, face painting, balloon artists and eggs filled with treats for the youngsters.
“We host 15 events each year like this that are all family-oriented, and are just a hoot,” Clark said. “We do these to have people feel welcome and walk away with a good feeling about Long Grove. We are making sure that people understand Long Grove is there for the whole family.”
The Bunny Hop, which typically draws 1,000 children and adults, takes place in large area called Brother’s Field, where all the activities occur at the same time. Families can choose what they want to do and when.
Children of all ages can bring their baskets and hop along from station to station. They are asked to first bring their baskets to the check-in station at the Visitor Center.
Then they can go look for Lucky the duck and the ponies masquerading as lambs. Horses for Humanity, a nonprofit based in Wauconda, works with therapy horses and will bring ponies to the Bunny Hop.
“It’s a fanciful thing,” Clark said. “Kids come and pet the ponies and get their photos taken.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be Easter without eggs. Clark said the business association will give away 9,000 eggs filled with treats and child-safe toys.
“We don’t do an egg hunt,” Clark said. “We tried that in the past and it gets to be a stampede. So now we have kids stand in line and give them eggs.”
Visitors also can shake hands with or hug the Easter Bunny and pose for photos.
Food and drinks for sale will be offered in an outdoor covered tent.
“We do have a number of restaurants and ice cream shops nearby,” Clark added.
Bunny Hop attendees walk around town during the event. “Everybody also wants to go to the three chocolate shops in Long Grove,” Clark said.
Clark said the feel good event gives “families something to do together and just be happy.”
Bunny Hop
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. April 8
Where: Brother’s Field, 342 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove
Tickets: Free
Information: 847-634-0888, longgrove.org/festival/egg-hunt
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
