Menlo Park’s annual Egg Hunt and Spring Festival drew thousands of families from across the community for a day of seasonal celebration at Burgess Park and the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center last Saturday.
Now in its 17th year, the event featured a popular egg hunt on the Burgess field with other spring-themed activities. While the overall format remained familiar, several updates were introduced this year to improve safety and organization.
For the first time, advanced registration was required. Additionally, the egg hunt was divided into multiple time slots based on age groups, ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Tickets were free for Menlo Park residents and $5 for non-residents.
“There had been incidents in the past where the events were just so crowded and people were a little anxious about their little ones participating,” lead event coordinator Jennifer Mosso said. “Doing advanced tickets made it so we could get control over the numbers and make it as safe as possible for the children.”
To further support children’s safety and comfort, this year’s event introduced a sensory-friendly Egg Hunt, designed specifically for children who are neurodivergent, have sensory sensitivities, or find large groups overwhelming. Held indoors at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, the modified hunt included calming and engaging features such as obstacle courses and toys, creating a more relaxed environment for play.
Attendance was limited, lighting was dimmed, and no music or loud sounds were played. Unlike the main hunt, which lasted 10–15 minutes, participants in the sensory-friendly option were given 40 minutes to move at their own pace.
“We want to make sure that we’re inclusive and supportive of people of any disability. As the city is planning events in the future, we definitely want to add space for that,” Mosso said.
As part of its broader effort to create a more inclusive environment for children with disabilities, Menlo Park partnered with Ayers Family Plastic Eggs, a plastic egg company that employs individuals with disabilities. Through the partnership, 12,000 eggs were distributed to the public.
While families waited for their designated egg hunt time slots, they enjoyed a variety of activities throughout Burgess Park. Stations included a petting zoo with chickens, pigs, and bunnies; arts and crafts; bounce houses; photos with the Spring Bunny and much more. The Menlo Park Fire Department also partnered with the event, offering families the chance to ride around town in a vintage fire truck.
Community members were enthusiastic about the wide range of activities offered for families. “It’s awesome that they put this together for all the residents and offer free, fun activities for kids,” Gloria Duignan, who attended the event to spend quality time with a child she was babysitting, said.
Isha Ghai, attending the event for the first time, expressed her satisfaction with the experience. “It is very well organized. My kids are really enjoying it, so I think they do a great job keeping the kids engaged,” she said.
According to Mosso, the event drew approximately 2,200 attendees, making it “the biggest egg hunt that the city has had.” The record-breaking turnout highlighted just how much the community values opportunities to come together. As laughter filled the park and baskets filled with eggs, Menlo Park’s spring tradition proved stronger and more inclusive than ever.
