(Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo) An Easter Eggstravaganza is planned Saturday at The Maxx Entertainment Center in Iron Mountain. Kerrie Freeman, event coordinator, prepares prizes for Saturday’s hunt.

IRON MOUNTAIN — It’s an Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday.

The community is invited to The Maxx Entertainment Center, 2022 Aragon St. in Iron Mountain, for its second egg hunt event.

More than 5,000 eggs will be filled with goodies for kids to find, event coordinator Kerrie Freeman said.

Doors will open at 10 a.m., with the egg drop schedule as follows: 10:30 a.m., ages 3 and younger; 11 a.m., ages 4 to 5; 11:30 a.m., ages 6 to 7; noon, ages 8 to 9; and 12:30 a.m., 10 and older.

Parents are asked to come to the venue as close to the start time as possible.

“There will be more than 1,000 eggs up for grabs in each division,” Freeman said, adding many will also include tickets to be exchanged for prizes.

They will have two grand prizes — boy and girl — for each age group that were donated by the Salvation Army of Kingsford.

In addition, each age group will have many other prizes availablee, including about 100 plush animals donated by The Maxx.

Kids will be able to get their photo taken with the Easter Bunny.

The free festivities will have a variety of games, including bunny hop races, pin the tail on the bunny and cornhole. Youngsters will also be able to enjoy Easter arts and crafts. Concessions will be available as well.

Freeman decided last year she wanted to open her “family Easter egg hunt” up to the community.

“I wanted to get the event going again after the annual Marion Park event stopped a couple years ago,” she said. “All the kids looked forward to that every year.”

Freeman said she started doing an annual Easter egg hunt for her daughter when Macey was a year old. “That was 12 years ago,” she said. “I would hide 50 eggs for her and my nieces and nephews.”

Each year, Freeman would add more eggs, and eventually it grew to cover her yard with 1,000 eggs — extending an invitation to more family and friends.

“I would always include one golden egg that was filled with a cash prize inside,” she said.

With the help of community donations last year, she was able to fill 3,500 eggs.

“The original plan was to host the event at Crystal Lake Park, but three days prior we got snow, so we were unable to have it outdoors,” Freeman said.

She noted that several licensed plow companies offered their services to clear the area, but she worried it would damage the grounds.

Dave Fraser, owner of The Maxx Entertainment Center in Iron Mountain, reached out to Freeman to offer his facility after seeing her Facebook post about her dilemma of having to cancel due to the weather.

“So after last year, he and I decided that we would have it at The Maxx every year, because of the amount of room he has both inside and out,” she said. “What an awesome idea he had.”

They learned a lot from last year’s festivities and have planned several improvements, Freeman said.

She expressed her appreciation to all the individuals, organizations and businesses that have either made monetary donations or contributed eggs, candy and prizes.

“I’m honestly at a loss of words and overwhelmed with such kindness,” Freeman said. “The community has come together to have this event.”

She said her goal was to be comparable to Marion Park’s Egg Hunt, and thinks they are close. However, Freeman has no plans to do large giveaways, such as bikes.

“There are too many children that walk away with hurt feelings — just don’t want to see anyone sad,” she said.

She plans to keep the tradition going next year. “I want to also do this for my four grandchildren so they have something to look forward to,” she said.

They hope the weather cooperates Saturday to have the hunt outdoors.

“It’s going to be amazing — I can’t wait,” Freeman said. “It makes me happy to see the kids smile.

Other Easter egg hunts this weekend include:

BEECHER, Wis.

The Northwoods Sports Recreations and Community Center will host its first Easter Special Egg Hunt on Saturday. The hunt begins at 1 p.m., with more than 2,500 eggs to be found.

They will divide children into age groups, from infants through high school students.

“Everyone will be included,” said Amanda Cox, director of the non-profit.

In addition to candy, prizes will be awarded in each age bracket after egg hunt is complete. Kids will be able to check their eggs for prizes.

Everyone is also invited to tour the facilities and see what the NSRCC will have to offer the community in the near future, she said.

There is no fee to participate.

The non-profit is currently seeking items or monetary donations for candy and prizes. Anyone interested can contact drop off at the NSRCC during store hours or call Cox at 920-393-7944.

Cox expressed how grateful they are for all the donations they have received to make this event possible.

The NSRCC facility is at N1711 U.S. 141 in Beecher.

CRIVITZ, Wis.

Children age 9 and younger are invited to the Crivitz Business Association’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday.

The hunt will begin at 11:30 a.m., at the Crivitz Community Veterans Park and Littleland Playground.

More than 3,000 eggs will be filled with candy, treats, toys, prizes, coupons and more. Tickets will also be placed in several eggs to be redeemed for a larger prize.

Kids can meet and have a photo taken with the Easter Bunny.