Massive Crowd Attends Central Frontenac Egg Drop

Jeff Green | Apr 23, 2025

A joint effort by the Sharbot Lake and Arden based Recreation Committees, the first ever helicopter Easter Egg drop in Central Frontenac proved to be a bigger draw than anyone could have anticipated. The weather in advance of the event, which was held at Oliver Scott Memorial Park next to Granite Ridge Education Centre, had been extreme. Thunderstorms raged all night, dumping rain on the parking lot and the ballfield where the drop was set to take place. But the storm ended early in the morning, and vehicle after vehicle streamed in, filling the school parking lot, the sides of the highway in all directions, and spilled over to Cannon Road and the yard of the Sharbot Lake Marina. Crowds gathered in on both sides of the covered rink, separated from the field by a parking lot.

By 10 o’clock everyone was in place. Then came the helicopter over the school. It dropped one-load of brightly coloured plastic eggs on the out field and then flew off, only to return a few minutes later with another load, as the crowd cheered.

The eggs were spread out across the field as much as they could be when dropped from a safe height. Organisers removed the ropes holding back the children and their parents, who had been waiting as patiently as they could for the opportunity to run to the eggs. The crowd filtered through the gate on the first base line, with others running around the batting cage. A few other volunteers at tempted to hold the crown back at the edge of the infield, but that was not possible. It turned out the 4,000 eggs were not quite enough for the crowd, and some  of the early birds made off with a pretty good haul, leading to a few moments of confusion, and tears among some of the smaller children.

Informally, many of the families who had made out well, passed out eggs to the younger kids.

All in all, most all of the children ended up eating chocolate, and many of the adults as well. Event organisers had anticipated about 400 children would make it out, but the events success caught them by surprise. People came out not only from around Central Frontenac, but from as far away as Amherstview and Gananoque.

Already thinking ahead to next year, organizers are talking about letting the younger kids out first, and other ways to improve the event.

After the hunt, the craft and activity tables and BBQ lunch were all very popular.