KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

This past weekend was filled with candy, eggs and sunrise services as Tullahoma residents were out celebrating Easter.

Those driving on Jackson Street on the morning of Saturday, March 30, probably saw members of Redemption to the Nations, formerly Ministries of Hope, making their over four mile cross walk starting from Lowes, at 2211 N. Jackson St., to the viaduct on West Carroll Street to the church at 808 S. Anderson St., next to Tullahoma Lanes. The group were escorted by the Tullahoma Police Department as they made their journey to bring awareness to Jesus Christ, his sacrifice and his resurrection.

Also happening on Saturday was the Hands-On Science Center’s Easter Celebration. Taking place throughout the day, the science center had various free and paid activities available for attendees throughout the day. These free activities included crafts, the ribbon cuttings for both the renovated Sound Gardena and the spring themed a-MAZE-ing Science Exhibit, meeting the Easter Bunny, an egg toss competition, egg race challenges inside the a-MAZE-ing Science Exhibit for various age groups, an egg science demo and a teen and adult raw egg battle.

The paid fundraising activities were the egg hunts for the age groups of 5-years-old and under, 6-9-years-old and 10-12-years-old. The fun didn’t stop at the children as the science center also hosted its HOSC Adult Easter Egg Hunt for adults 21-years and older from 6:30 to 9 p.m. According to HOSC Executive Director Sean Amidon, the Saturday evening event sold out with over 120 attendees participating in finding hidden eggs with a chance to win hundreds of dollars in prizes.

The science center wasn’t the only chance for children to find some eggs as the South Jackson Performing Arts Center hosted its free Community Egg Hunt. Hundreds of children and their families gathered at the performing arts center to participate in hunting for Easter eggs, as well as winning prizes in a raffle. Similarly with the science center, the children were separated into three groups as event organizer Sernobia McGee led a countdown for each group to make the run and find some eggs. Also on hand for festivities at South Jackson were the Easter Bunny and the recently crowned Miss Tullahoma Pazlee Lowe.

According to South Jackson officials, nearly 700 children and their parents were on hand to find 12,500 eggs and to win over 350 prizes, which were donated by over 20 persons, organizations and businesses.

All photos were taken by Kyle Murphy.