NATCHEZ — Like a pastel snowfall, thousands of Easter eggs covered the baseball fields at Duncan Park.

But in just a couple of minutes every egg had found a new home in a basket, bucket or even just a plastic grocery sack as hundreds of Miss-Lou children participated in the 50th annual Miss-Lou Easter Egg Hunt.

The children, in three different age groups, scoured the grounds looking for just the right egg in hopes of landing one of the larger door prizes such as a bicycle or toy action figure.

Eli Johnson, 4, came to the Easter egg hunt with his older brother Zach, 7, and his grandmother, Wanda Durham.

And even though Eli didn’t find a special egg, he was happy with the 10 eggs he picked up.

“I got some candy,” Eli said while he was still busy opening each egg.

Durham said she brought her grandchildren to the egg hunt because she thought the event would be a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

“An egg hunt seemed like something they would have fun doing,” she said.

And, as far as Eli was concerned, she was right.

But it wasn’t just the eggs hunt that made Eli smile. He was also able to get up close and personal with the Easter bunny.

“I hugged him. Twice,” Eli said.

In the older age group, 6- to 10-year-olds, Deljayvien Harried, 6, was able to fill his basket full of multi-colored glittery eggs.

And even though he didn’t find an egg that would have awarded him a large prize, he was pleased.

Deljayvien said he liked the candy he found in the eggs — both chocolate and fruit flavored candy.

“I like the fruity ones best,” he said.

Durham said after having a fun filled morning with her grandchildren she was planning to make the Easter egg hunt an annual event.

“I hope they keep doing this for many more years,” she said.