Originally launched over 33 years ago by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the event has evolved through the years with support from the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce. For the past 25 years, it has been a collaborative effort led by the Chillicothe Merchants, the Optimist Club, and the Chillicothe Historical Society—a true testament to the strength of local partnerships.

This year’s event featured 10,000 candy-filled eggs, carefully organized by age groups to ensure fairness and fun for all participants. Children were divided into categories—ages 0–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8, and 9 and up—allowing each group to enjoy the experience without competing against older participants and parents with more than one child can see each of their children participating. Despite early concerns, the weather held out once again, continuing the event’s remarkable streak of rain-free celebrations.

The Easter Egg Round Up is more than just a hunt—it’s a community-wide effort powered by volunteers and local organizations. Longtime emcee Greg Kircher of GST Productions returned to energize the crowd, while students from the IVC Hungry Ghost group dedicated 16 hours to stuffing every single egg by hand—no pre-filled eggs are used in this event.

Families were also delighted by appearances from Kara Hoffman as the Easter Bunny, an adorable pink fox, and Chillibear from the Chillicothe Public Library. The Shademakers Beautification Board added a special touch by handing out flower seeds and donuts, while the Rock Island Train Depot welcomed visitors with its operating model train display. Nearby, Unique Twist Balloons entertained children with creative balloon designs outside Covered Wagon Crafts.

Behind the scenes, the event requires months of preparation—about three months of planning, one month of organizing and confirming participating groups, and two hours of setup on the day of the event. Yet, the magic unfolds quickly, with the egg hunt itself lasting just 30 minutes from start to finish.

A few fun traditions make the event even more special: the youngest participants (ages 0–2) take their time collecting eggs with help from parents, while the oldest group (ages 9 and up) adds a challenge by using spoons to pick up eggs. For a sustainable effort, many eggs are collected, recycled, and reused year after year.

Organizers also expressed deep gratitude to a generous local Chillicothe couple who donated all the candy used to fill the eggs—helping keep this cherished event free for the community.

With strong attendance, enthusiastic volunteers, and smiling faces throughout the park, the Easter Egg Round Up once again proved why it remains one of Chillicothe’s most treasured family traditions.