Families explore downtown Ashtabula looking for Easter fun

Warren Dillaway, Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio
Updated ·2 min read

Mar. 30—ASHTABULA — Easter Eggstravaganza took on a different look this year as hundreds of children, and their families, explored Main Avenue after an Easter egg hunt at Lance Corp. Kevin Cornelius Memorial Park.

Alisha McLaughlin and Heather Tulino, co-chairs of the publicity committee for the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association, decided to shake things up a bit this year.

"Just trying to mix it up. to change things," said Tulino of the move to an Easter Egg Hunt at the park followed by visits to numerous downtown businesses.

Rain didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the children, parents or business owners as they sought to experience the downtown scene on Saturday afternoon.

"We just wanted to see Main Avenue come back a little. ... We wanted to try to raise the bar for our events," Tulino said.

She said the ADDA wanted to make sure people are aware of the businesses on Main Avenue.

The organizers said many of the businesses had special opportunities for families and food trucks were present on Main Avenue as well.

Eighty golden eggs were mixed among the 6,000 total eggs with the golden eggs meaning special prizes for the children. A long line of people waited to get into the Space on Main Event Center to earn some of the special prizes and meet the Easter Bunny.

McLaughlin said the ADDA has a summer kick-off event planned for May and A Dog Days program in August.

"We hope to have a kids event somewhere in between," she said.

Damien Norman braved the chilly weather with his family.

"Everything is nice down here," he said while walking Main Avenue protected by an umbrella.

Haylee Marioth and her son, Emilio Johnson, 2, visited with the Easter Bunny and checked out the downtown options.

Kist by the Sun's Christina Keeler said the business wasn't sure what to expect as they brought in chicks and rabbits for children to pet.

"We just go with the flow," she said of the large crowd that came to the tanning salon.

Kimberly Cottle of Jefferson, and her daughter Riley, 17, brought rabbits to the event.

"It's a good experience. A lot of the parents said their kids have never seen a bunny," she said.