DOBSON — Easter blooms a bit early this year, with the 12th annual Surry Parks and Recreation Easter Egg Hunt, Celebration of the Young Child, and Canned Food Drive scheduled for Saturday at Fisher River Park in Dobson.

This free Easter event is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ball field area of Fisher River Park (use the soccer field entrance).

Separate Easter egg hunts will be held for kids ages birth to 4, 5 to 7, and 8 to 11 years old. Each age group will hunt for eggs on one of three ball fields, with a golden egg grand prize hidden on each field. The starting time for all three age groups is noon sharp.

Multiple free children’s activities are planned for the day, including face painting, activity centers and a bounce house. The Easter Bunny and Buckle Bear also will attend the event.

Surry County Parks and Recreation Director Daniel White said there will be multiple agencies at the celebration, including the fire department with a fire truck; rescue squads from the area; the sheriff’s office, which will bring the department’s Hummer; and the Wildlife Commission’s booth with fisheries biologist Kin Hodges.

Concessions will be available for purchase: hot dogs, snacks, drinks, chips and popcorn. All proceeds from the sale of concessions will be donated to Surry County Special Olympics.

In the case of inclement weather, the egg hunt “will be conducted as a drive-through” since some eggs contain candy and must be used, according to White.

A canned food drive also will take place during the event and participants may bring donations of non-perishable items if they wish, said White, but donations are not required for attendance. All food donations will be given to Foothills Food Pantry in Dobson.

The event is held in cooperation with the Surry County Preschool Interagency Council.

“We’ve been doing this for 12 years and it is a great event. We have a lot of people come out each year and we are proud to serve Surry County residents. Even if it rains, we will have the drive-through eggs and maybe even face painting, so it will be a lot of fun,” said White.