Easter cheers

NEWPORT BEACH — Emily Perkins spent only a few minutes hunting for Easter eggs Saturday at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina. She figured she would quit while she was ahead.

Emily, 10, of Fountain Valley was the lucky scavenger at the resort’s 19th annual Easter “Egg-Stravaganza,” in which children search for thousands of decorated eggs scattered around the beach.

The plastic eggs included 50 gold-painted ones with tickets for prizes inside, and one of those contained the top prize of all — a brand-new bicycle, which Emily won after she discovered the egg peeking out of the sand.

“I think I’m pretty done for right now,” said Emily, who has an old beach cruiser at home and had been looking to replace it.

About 100 children joined this year in Newport Dunes’ annual Easter event, which also featured a pancake breakfast, a visit by the Easter Bunny and “Thomas the Tank Engine” train rides for the youngest ones.

There was a more serious side to the festivities as well, though, as 43 children visited from the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter in Costa Mesa to get some needed holiday cheer.

Laura Miller, the shelter’s executive director, said the number of homeless children in attendance was a record this year. Each of the children, who ranged from toddlers to teenagers, got a gift basket with toys, books, toothpaste and other items donated by the Community Action Team in Long Beach.

“This is something that’s very special to a lot of them,” Miller said. “A lot of the time, they’re very isolated from their families. Usually, they’re by themselves during the holidays, so this gives them a chance to mingle with other families, which is healthy for them.”

Fortunately for the visitors, the setting was a bit less chaotic than it’s been in past years.

Katey Potts, the activities director for Newport Dunes, said the organizers began using plastic eggs this year rather than hard-boiled ones, since the real items often attracted crows and sea gulls who swooped down in search of a meal.

“Usually, we have three or four security guards or staff members every year to shoo them away,” Potts said.

KIDS TALK BACK

The Daily Pilot asked kids at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, “What’s your favorite part of Easter?”

“How it has eggs and how the Easter Bunny gives you toys.”

Julianna Eifler,

10, Newport Beach

“Finding all the eggs.”

Chandler Ellmore,

10, Newport Beach

“The egg hunts and getting the Easter baskets, and having lots of fun.”

Corey Reddick,

11, Costa Mesa

“Spending time with family.”

Dillon Marino,

9, Newport Beach

“That Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again, and that you can spend time with friends and family.”

Jamaica Reles,

10, Alberta, Canada

MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.