They searched for Easter eggs across Northwest Philly on Saturday

More than 70 visitors came to Awbury Arboretum’s annual Easter egg hunt Saturday morning. Meanwhile, two miles away at Stenton, more than 200 children were registered to attend three separate egg hunts throughout the day.

The Awbury event boasted a traditional egg hunt, an egg and spoon race and a tour of the arbor and secret garden, as well as face painting.

Established in 1852 and set on 55 acres in East Germantown and Mt. Airy, Awbury has hosted the annual Easter egg hunt since the 1980s.

“Awbury’s done Easter egg hunts so much in the past, people kind of expect it,” said Beth Miner, outreach and community engagement manager. “We weren’t able to do a hunt last year and it was really sad. A lot of people were disappointed.”

No disappointment this year

This weekend, however, people from Germantown, West Oak Lane and Northeast Philadelphia made it out to the event.

Maria Mejia, who brought her 3-year-old son Nye, was looking for Easter events online when she stumbled across Awbury’s egg hunt.

“I chose this place because it was within walking distance from our house,” Mejia said.

Interestingly enough, most of the day’s participants had discovered the event online as well.

Alice Refsnider who traveled from Northeast Philadelphia, saw an ad for the arboretum’s guided tours and after going online for further information, found the Easter event.

Dual purpose

While Easter egg hunts took place all across the Philadelphia region this past Saturday, Awbury presented something unique.

The Arboretum’s free, guided tours of the grounds and secret garden gave adults and children the opportunity to learn more about the historical aspect of the property. It is events like this that help the Arboretum to remain in existence.

“Because we don’t charge admission, we really rely on events like this, in hopes to get the word out and find people who will support us,” Miner said.

At the end of the day, those visitors who remained partook in face painting and reading Easter themed books.

“We had such a great day,” said Refsnider, who read an Easter story to a group of children. “It was all so much fun.”