Families across Mecosta County gathered on April 4 at Paris Park for the annual Paris Easter party.
The event, which was organized by the Economic Development Responsibility Alliance of Michigan, featured an egg hunt, food vendors, a petting zoo and even photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny.
The event drew families from across the region, with children of all ages participating in the Easter egg hunt throughout the park. Event organizers separated age groups to ensure the event ran smoothly and younger children could safely participate in the activities.
Founder and Director of EDRA, Marjorie Steele, explained some of the fun activities at the Paris Easter Party.
“We’ve got Far Out Food Truck, which is serving their breakfast menu,” Steele said. “And Sunshine on a Shelf; she is a local. She does baked goods and treats and Rice Krispies and cookies, and she’s done a whole Easter-themed arrangement for us.”
The egg hunt served as the main event of the celebration, with families gathering early to secure a good spot and a clear view of the hunt.
“We have two separate areas, one for the younger group and one for the older group,” Steele said
Food was another major part of the celebration. The Far Out Food Truck was on site, serving meals throughout the day, and providing families with a place to grab food without ever having to leave the park.
Chef and owner of The Far Out Food Truck, Brian Block, talked about his food truck and their role in the event.
“Far Out Food Truck is a chef-owned and operated food truck based in Weidman, Michigan. We are a mobile kitchen serving creative, from-scratch, cosmic American eats,” Block said.
The event had a variety of food for families to enjoy and fun activities, bringing the community together for a happy holiday celebration.
“We are a community-centered business,” Block said. “Getting involved in these events helps get our food out to more people in the community.”
Photo opportunities with the Easter bunny were also a central feature of the event. Families lined up throughout the event to take pictures with the Easter bunny and his assistant, creating lasting memories and adding to the Easter fun.
As the event went on, Paris Park was full of families enjoying fun, food and entertainment. The combination of local vendors, volunteers and community organizers helped ensure everyone had a fun and festive Easter celebration.
The most popular activity this year was by far this year’s new addition to the party, The Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo. Families and children gathered to enjoy a hands-on learning experience with a wide variety of animals from the zoo.
Owner and operator of The Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo, Kirk Elya, discussed which animals they brought to the event.
“I have a camel and about 30 or so goats and sheep, and different varieties of miniature zebu cows, and people get to feed the animals while I’m there,” Elya said.
The petting zoo added an educational element to the event, giving children the opportunity to learn about the animals and get up close in a supervised environment.
“I think if people can touch an animal, I think they can carry that experience through their life and care more about the animal,” Elya said.
The Paris Easter party offered a blend of fun and educational activities, bringing families together not just to celebrate the holiday but also to come together as a community to learn and have fun. With the help of local volunteers and vendors, the event provided a wide range of activities for attendees of all ages.
As the event came to a close, organizers emphasized the importance of events like these in bringing communities together to have fun and celebrate holidays.
“It’s so important for the fabric of the community to have events that bring us together, not to do anything in particular but to just have a good time and celebrate,” Steele said.
For many in Mecosta County, the Paris Easter Party is more than just a celebration. It’s a reminder of the community that has been established.