Newport Egg Roll says hello to spring

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Stephanie Mathis observes her 2-year-old daughter, Harper, as she applies color to her paddle toy during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Makenna and Cade Eckenweiler, ages 6 and 4 respectively, enjoy a train ride during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Kids competed in a sack race during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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The Jolly Express provided train rides second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Carolina Bertacchi, left, and Julia Fontana take a turn rolling the egg during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Councilman Keith Curry watches his grandson, Anthony Capitelli Jr., center, play in the bubble-making pool during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Kids competed in the sack race during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Kids competed in the sack race during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Haley Soukesian, 4, is transformed into a kitty face during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Families worked on craft projects during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Vincent Nguyen, 3, receives help with the egg roll during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

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Leah Linton, 3, rolls an egg during the second annual Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll on Saturday at Newport Beach Civic Center. (Susan Hoffman / Daily Pilot)

By Daily Pilot staff

March 19, 2016 5:27 PM PT

With Easter just around the corner, families looking for some early holiday fun gathered at the Newport Beach Civic Center on Saturday morning for the second Mayor’s Spring Egg Roll.

Children went head-to-head rolling eggs across the lawn, while others had their faces painted and created spring-themed art with friends and relatives. Families looking for a break from the activities hopped on a small train winding its way around the municipal buildings.

The guest of honor, the Easter Bunny, hopped around the event, occasionally pausing for photos with excited youngsters.

The inaugural Spring Egg Roll last year drew more than 600 people to the Civic Center.

Then-Mayor Ed Selich’s inspiration for the event was the Easter Egg Roll, a seasonal tradition on the White House lawn since 1878.