Drive-thru Easter events are planned this year in the Latrobe area, as officials observe health precautions during the covid-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, runners will have the choice of participating in person or virtually in an annual Easter-themed race.
Repeating the format of its successful drive-thru visit with Santa three months ago, Unity will welcome motorists to see the Easter Bunny from the safety of their cars at 10 a.m. Saturday near the township municipal building at 154 Beatty County Road.
“It will be good to get the kids out of the house to see the Easter Bunny,” said supervisors Chairman John Mylant.
Treats will be distributed to the first 300 children, age 12 or younger. It took little more than a half hour for the township to hand out that many treat bags when families turned out in force for the Santa event.
Call 724-539-2546 for more information about the Unity Easter event.
In place of a traditional Easter egg hunt, Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation is partnering with the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce for another drive-thru event, at 1:30 p.m April 3 in the parking lot of Latrobe’s Memorial Stadium.
The Easter Bunny will be on hand then for Peter Cottontail’s Easter Trail. Kids are to remain in vehicles; treat bags will be provided for the first 200 ages 2-7.
Kids also will be able to pick up materials for a coloring contest. The prize will be a free summer pass to the Rogers-McFeely Memorial Pool, according to parks and recreation Executive Director Craig Shevchik.
The kids’ event will follow after the Latrobe-GLSD 21st annual Rabbit Race 5K Run and Walk, starting at the stadium at 9 a.m. Awards will be presented in eight age divisions, for male and female participants.
As with the organization’s Turkey Trot, which was held Nov. 26, virtual participation is available for those who would rather walk or run on their own.
Shevchik expects this year’s Rabbit Race to be more successful than last year’s, which was postponed and saw a shift in format. “We tried to get it in,” he said, “but we held it virtually, and about 25 people signed up.”
As of Monday, he said, more than 100 were signed up for this year’s race. He said in-person participants can be started in waves to avoid crowding along the race route.
Pre-registration, before Friday, costs $20. Race day registration, beginning at 7:30 a.m., costs $25.
Visit www.latroberecreation.org for a registration form and more information. Information also is available by calling 724-537-4331.
