Thousands of people arrived at the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center for the 42nd annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Fest on Saturday.
From 4,000 free bagged lunches to a classic car show, event organizer Eric Quick Sr. said he aims to provide a safe space for children and families to relax on the holiday weekend.
Quick’s late father, Robert “Mighty Rock” Roberts, created the festival when Quick was a child. For the last sixteen years, Quick has managed the event alongside its sponsors and dozens of volunteers.
“A lot of the parents that are here now were actually kids attending this event also. Every year it gets bigger and bigger,” Quick said.
Volunteers greeted people outside with a long table of bagged lunches before guests headed inside the conference center, decked with bouncy houses, a photo station with the Easter Bunny and more than 30 tables with candy and gifts.
Quick said the egg hunt is sponsored by multiple businesses and organizations in Macon-Bibb. His former motorcycle club, Flaming Knights, is a longtime sponsor of the event.
Robert Grady said he joined Flaming Knights 19 years ago, and was introduced to Macon’s Easter egg hunt through the club.
Grady said, “Giving back to the community, that’s what I believe in. Someone did it for me when I was a kid. I remember going to Play Streets, that’s in New York, and they kept us kids off the streets.”
Families scattered around the convention center, stopping by food vendors and taking pictures with the easter bunny. Among them was Sandra Jackson with her grandchildren and great niece.
Jackson heard about the event on the radio and decided to bring the kids to spend “family time.” She said she was most excited about the children’s time with the Easter Bunny and looking at the classic cars with her grandson.
Quick said Walmart has sponsored the event for about 10 years.
Nick Day, store manager at the Walmart on Zebulon Road, said he moved to Macon from Wisconsin two weeks ago, and this was his first time at the egg hunt.
“I just want to play my role and be a part of it and see how I can support. Can’t wait until my family comes down because I know they would love this,” Day said.
Grady said the 42-year legacy of Macon’s egg hunt was already established “long before” his involvement, and the Flaming Knights and other supporters are there to continue it.
He added, “This is fellowship. This is love. That’s what this is about. Some people didn’t eat yesterday, but they knew they were gonna eat today.”
