2023 was a hopping year for the Easter Bunny in the Canby area, as thousands braved cloudy skies, damp fields and unseasonably cool temperatures for Easter egg hunts and other activities over the past two weekends.
Things kicked off on Saturday, April 1, with an estimated 700 to 1,000 crowding into Maple Street Park for the inaugural Micah’s Egg Hunt, a heartfelt tribute to 8-month-old Micah Veglia Pedersen, whose life was tragically cut short by sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, on Easter Sunday 2022.
The event, organized by the Pedersen Family and the Haven Rose Foundation, was a tremendous success, featuring food trucks, bubble art, crafts, bounce houses, a charity raffle and two egg hunts.
Rather than eggs stuffed with goodies, youngsters collected empty shells that they then traded for prizes of their choice, arcade-style. The most sought-after orbs were the rare golden eggs, which rewarded the lucky tykes with a stuffed moose in honor of Micah, whose nickname since birth had been “Moose.”
The raffle and silent auction helped to raise over $4,000, which will go toward the Haven Rose Foundation and its work providing support to bereaved families like the Pedersens. Micah’s parents, Nicola and Joshua Pedersen, said they were touched by the outpouring of love and support from the community.
“It was such a special day filled with so many emotions,” they said in an email to participants. “We are so glad our son’s life brought out so much joy, support, prayer, healing and blessings for us and our community! Thank you for Saturday, it was such a gift, and fun to be had by all.”
Organizers have already announced plans for the second annual Micah’s Egg Hunt, which will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024. More information about the Haven Rose Foundation, as well as future events, can be found on its website.
The same Saturday featured not one, not two, but three egg hunts hosted by Grand View Baptist Church, with more than 6,000 eggs scattered across three locations at Wait Park in Canby, Clark Park in Molalla and Rivercrest Park in Oregon City.
The fun and eggs-citement continued the following weekend on Holy Saturday, as the annual Sons of the American Legion egg hunt at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds saw an estimated 5,000 brightly colored orbs be scooped up in no time flat, while a similar phenomenon occurred at Korner Park in Beavercreek, where hamlet officials kick-started a new tradition with the help of the Beavercreek Saloon and volunteers.
