Easter Eggstravaganza 2008 in Brentwood, California

Easter Eggstravaganza in Brentwood, California, is the largest privately run egg hunt in the United States. The Easter Eggstravaganza has grown by leaps and bounds, spirited on by the energetic and faith lead congregation of The Mountain View Christian Center in Brentwood. It is the largest annual one day event, held in the growing city of Brentwood.

Five years ago the Easter Eggstravaganza had its beginnings, along with the fledgling Mountain View Christian Center in Brentwood. Brentwood is located in the far east bay area of San Francisco. The very first year the congregation was much smaller, only consisting of about 60 to 80 members. They now have about 500 to 600 members and are still growing.

There were four eggs stuffing parties held the first year of the Easter Eggstravanganza. They hand stuffed 25,000 eggs to be hidden in an empty lot next to the Christian Center. They made do with what they had access to. The lot was full of potholes.

There were a lot of doubters who thought they wouldn't have much of a turn out for that first hunt. The more optimistic predicted a turn out of 200 people. They had 2,000 show up.

The Easter Eggstravaganza is held out in open fields now, at Liberty High, in Brentwood

The second year they filled 50,000 eggs and 10,000 people came to the Easter Eggstravaganza. The third year the egg count increased to 100,000, with 22,000 people attending. Year four brought 33,000 people to gather 150,000 eggs. This year they have 225,000 eggs to put out.

The record they found for the largest egg hunt, not privately run, is held by an amusement park. They put out about 500,000 eggs. The members of Mountain View Christian Center have a high spirited goal to eventually break that record. They want to have a million eggs to put out for the masses of people. They would like to make The Guinness Book of World Records. At the moment though, that is a bit beyond their budget. They aim high, in more ways than one.

They anticipate a possible 40,000 to 50,000 attendees this year in 2008, particularly with the state of the economy being as bad as it is. To quote pastor Joe's energetic explanation, "When the land is in a famine, God tends to rise up his people."

Needless to say, preparing that many plastic eggs, made for a lot of sore, pinched fingers in previous years. This year they are getting the eggs for Easter Eggstravaganza pre-packaged.

In addition to the eggs they throw out, they toss out loose individually wrapped candy. There is no chocolate put out because of the weather. It would melt. They anticipate that they will put out about 500 pounds of lose wrapped candy, along with the plastic eggs. It takes a truck bed to hold that much candy.

Some of the eggs hold candy. Some of them have tickets for prizes. They already have 12 new bikes promised for the children's eggs, as some of the prizes. Last year there were nice prizes for the adults too, with a diamond watch on the donated prizes list.

The Easter Eggstravaganza is broken down into age groups. With so many people out rushing for the eggs, it is safer and more fair to all involved, to have the age groups split up.

The group ages for the Eggstravaganza are 0-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9,10-11, 12-13, and 14 up to 18 for the teens. They even have a hunt for the adults at the very end. They are spread out over the day. That way everyone doesn't have to be there all day long, if they don't want to be.

Because each hunt has to be set up one right after the other, they have it down to a science now. They are able to set up each consequent hunt in only 35 minutes. That is no mean feat for the amount of eggs that go out in that time span.

Not only do they put out eggs and candy, they keep about 10,000 eggs aside for children who may not have gotten any, or for those who missed out at the event. They also have as many Easter baskets as they can get.

The Easter Eggstravaganza is staffed by volunteers. It takes over 200 people to run the one day event. That is a lot of dedication. As Pastor Joe said," If you can put 8 to 12 hours a day in for a job, you can put one day of 8 to 12 hours for God." It is a humbling thought.

The event will cost about $60,000 dollars to put on this year. Only a portion of that comes from outside donations. They do not take any donations or money the day of the Easter Eggstravaganza. They have been offered it many times, but refused it. The feeling is that that day, is their gift back to thank God; to spread the word by action, not by taking or preaching. They will take donations and sponsorship, before the day or after, but not during.

Along with the massive egg gathering, they have other things to draw and please the crowds. Hotdogs, cotton candy, popcorn, soft drinks and water are served. There are 40 interactive bouncers for everyone to jump in. They have to inflate them the night before The Easter Eggstravaganza, while they are setting everything up. There is also music and drama at the gathering.

A group of members from Mountain View Christian Center spend the night at the fields the Friday night before the Easter Eggstravaganza. They get it all set up, then as Pastor Joe said with a chuckle, and a big grin, "It is our duty to test the barbecues and bouncers out the night before."

They are aware that there are often accidents, confusions and mishaps in such a large undertaking. To help alleviate that, there is a First Aide and Information command center, marked by a red balloon. They want to keep everything as safe as possible. That is not easy either, with so many people, and so many children joining in the fun.

People come from neighbouring Oakley and Antioch too. The Easter Eggstravaganza is becoming well known now, as the event is increasingly spoken about and publicized. Now people are coming from much further away to attend the festivities.

This year the event is being held on Saturday the 22nd of March. To celebrate Easter Sunday the next day, they are setting up tents for service. They are anticipating 1,000 people attending the outdoor service.

To attend The Easter Eggstravaganza, just show up. The event is totally free to anybody who comes. That includes the food and fun activities. All are welcome. That is truly showing and sharing the spirit. They are teaching by example.

For more information call Mountain View Christian Center at (925) 516-6700. Mountain View Christian Center is located at 605 Harvest Park Drive, in Brentwood, California.