Greater Valley Area residents were treated to spectacular weather over Easter weekend.

Rays of sunshine poured down from the sky, transforming cool mornings into warm afternoons.

It finally felt like spring after a long, cold winter.

That created ideal conditions for local Easter egg hunts. A number of them took place in the lead-up to Easter Sunday, including one hosted by the Chambers County chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

On Saturday, many families brought their young children to Rocky Point Park to search for goodies concealed in plastic eggs of every color. West Point Lake served as a beautiful backdrop.

Valley Baptist Church also hosted its annual egg hunt on Saturday. A scene similar to the one at Rocky Point Park unfolded on the church’s property. Families gathered as they watched their little ones look for eggs. Smiles dotted the landscape.

Two days prior, hunts were held at Lanett High School, the Valley Community Center and the Valley Senior Center.

The hunt at LHS featured 4,500 plastic eggs scattered across the football field inside Morgan-Washburn Stadium. The hunt at the Valley Community Center, meanwhile, took place in the pool. Eggs were placed on and below the water’s surface, giving participants a chance to dive for their treasure.

In total, thousands of eggs were collected at the various hunts. That made for a number of happy children.

Events like these foster a sense of community and are beneficial to the area. Certainly, they should be continued and celebrated.

The events also built anticipation for Easter Sunday, when many people across the Valley gathered in churches to commemorate Jesus’ resurrection.

It was a special day characterized by joy, hope and lots of sunshine. The Valley Times-News hopes that you enjoyed it.