Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny welcomed residents to the 69th Annual San Gabriel Kiwanis Club Foundation and City of San Gabriel Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast on March 30 at Smith Park. This event is the major fundraiser for the Kiwanis’ Scholarship Program.

The cooks are busy preparing a pancake feast at Smith Park

Members of the Gabrielino High School Jazz Bank entertained the guests as they enjoyed a delicious breakfast on a beautiful spring day in the park.

Members of the Fire Department decorated a large rescue basket for Easter and give the children a ride up and down to their delight.

Members of the Police Department hand out pencils and pamphlets to all of the residents in front of their little police car.

The park is full of family members and friends enjoying good food and entertainment.  The children enjoy the “bean toss game” and getting their faces painted as they wait for the pancake races and the egg hunt.

Members of the Key Club volunteer with the Parks and Recreation Department for this annual celebration.

The pancake races are by age groups and men versus women. Each contestant must balance a pancake on the backside of a spatula and run to the finish line.  The first, second and third place winners all receive prizes donated by local businesses.

The first place winner of each race competes for the winning prize.

Jerry Rincon, Sean Ong, Mya Cage, Emiliano Trujillo, Victor Casillas, Idhalia DeLuna, Maria Rincon and Yoke Liew, all first place winners raced to the finish line. Jerry Rincon is this year’s Grand Prize Winner.

The children, some carrying their Easter baskets, are all ready for the Egg Hunt. Children up to the age of nine can participate. They could hardly wait to the word “Go” so they could run and pick up plastic eggs filled with candy and fruit treats.

Each child received a colorful Easter Bunny as a reward for their participating in the Egg Hunt.

Each year this special event begins the Easter celebration in San Gabriel. The residents are very happy to help raise funds for their local Kiwanis Club’s Scholarship Program.