After collecting the eggs, participants were instructed to return empty eggs to a specific area to make clean up easy.

 

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The inaugural Dixon Egg-stravaganza held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 19 at Northwest Park, West H Street offered raffle prizes, arts and crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and more than 8,000 eggs up for grabs.

According to event organizer and sponsor Christina LaPorte, her family wanted to bring an event to the community that stays in the community.

“It is just about giving back. Being military, we move from place to place but since we have moved here, everyone has welcomed us with open arms,” said LaPorte.

LaPorte and her husband, James LaPorte, own and operate Nomads and Company Events, an event-planning company started in 2013, right before Christina LaPorte was deployed. She and her husband are in the Air Force, and being a military family is a point of pride for her.

Children were separated into five groups based on age and demographics to give them each an equal chance to collect some of the 8,242 eggs available.

Unfortunately, James LaPorte was unable to attend the Egg-stravaganza due to being tasked with a mission the morning of the event. Even so, the egg hunt had the support of Christina LaPorte’s unit, the 321st Airmobile Squadron.

The egg hunt itself began at 10 a.m., with families arriving at 9:30 a.m. The children were separated into five groups: 0- to 2-year-olds, 3- to 5-year-olds, 6- to 9-year-olds, 9 and up and special needs. At 10 a.m., the children were let loose to collect the 8,242 hand-filled eggs. LaPorte’s children, Gray, Cru and Lux, took part in the hunt.

Each plastic egg held a trinket or candy. Participants who didn’t bring a bucket were provided with a paper bag to collect the eggs. Glitter, markers and glue were also available to allow children to add their own artistic touches. Prize raffles were held, including items such as a cake topper and a balloon display, worth $1,500. Guests were also allowed to guess the number of jellybeans in two large plastic eggs. The closest guess won the eggs.

The inaugural Dixon Egg-stravaganza was held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 19, hosted by the LaPorte family of Nomads and Company Events. Christina LaPorte, the founder of Nomads, and her children, from left, Cru, Lux and Gray participated in the event as well.

According to LaPorte, the event was to create continuity, both for her family and Dixon residents. The LaPortes have more projects in store, including a summer picnic bash and Month of the Military Child.

Month of the Military Child is a program hosted by Nomads and Company that aims to collect handwritten letters for the children of military families, as they also serve in a sense. As of press time, Nomad has accrued 4,000 letters from three countries and 14 states. Letters are being accepted until April 28 at the Dixon Library, 230 N. First St.

“I wear a uniform but this is my creative wheelhouse,” said LaPorte.

For more information on future events, visit nomadscoevents.com or @nomadscoevents on Instagram.