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When:

Saturday, April 13th
2019
3-5PM

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Where:

Iowa state fairgrounds
Jacobson Center
3000 E Grand Ave
Des Moines, IA 50317

Register Volunteer Give

What is Special Egg Event?

The Special Egg Event is a free Easter egg hunt for children with special needs and their families. Enjoy food, carnival games, activity areas, and egg hunts that are designed for your child.

  • A Quiet Egg Hunt for children on the Autism Spectrum or children with Sensory Processing issues who need a quieter environment. Children who do not need a calm sensory environment should sign up for the general egg hunt.
  • A Beeping Egg Hunt For children who are blind or visually impaired.
  • A Magnetic Egg Hunt For children with wheelchairs or mobility restrictions. Magnetic eggs and poles Allow children to collect eggs
  • A General Egg Hunt with 2 heats: ASSISTED for children who need extra time or assistance hunting for eggs and UNASSISTED for siblings of children involved in any other hunts



Gates open at 3 pm Egg hunts begin at 3:30 pm
Activities available from 3-5 pm

NEW THIS YEAR: If you registered by April 8th please pick-up your t-shirt and registration packet on Thursday, April 11th OR Friday, April 12th between 3-7 pm at Journey Church, which is located at 4409 121st Street in Urbandale. If you register after April 8th your registration packet will be available at the Jacobson Center on the day of the event.

Location

We're Egg-cited to have the Jacobson Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds as the location for this year's Special Egg Event. This easy-to-get-to location has lots of nearby, accessible parking. There is lots of indoor, climate controlled space for the egg hunts. When you arrive at the event, watch for Special Egg Event signs on the street and volunteers who will guide you into the parking lot.

Sponsors

Providing this wonderful event at no cost to participants requires generous individual and corporate sponsors partnering with us. With over 250 children with special needs participating last year, and over 1,800 people in attendance, the Special Egg Event is a significant project. We hope that you will consider making a contribution to this special event as it continues to grow. 100% of every donation goes toward the expenses of the Special Egg Event. Please help us make this an Easter to remember for every child with special needs in Greater Des Moines!

We have divided sponsorships into four Easter-friendly levels:

Corporate Sponsorship Levels

Golden Egg $2,000+

  • Website Recognition
  • Large Logo on Special Egg Event T-shirt
  • Insert for bags - your choice of coupons, fliers, etc.
  • Recognition in event program
  • Various signage throughout the event

Pastel Egg $1,000

  • Website Recognition
  • Small Logo on Special Egg Event T-shirt
  • Insert for bags - your choice of coupons, fliers, etc.
  • Recognition in event program

Chocolate Bunny $500

  • Website Recognition
  • Insert for bags - your choice of coupons, fliers, etc.
  • Recognition in event program

Peeps $250

  • Website Recognition
  • Recognition in event program
Give Now!

Current Sponsors

Golden Egg $2,000+

Pastel Egg $1,000

Chocolate Bunny $500

Peeps $250

FAQ

Q: May I drop my children off?
A: NO. Because this is a family event, we require that each child have the supervision of a parent or guardian while participating.
Q: If I don't register before the event, may my child still participate?
A: YES. Pre-registration helps us to adequately prepare for the number of children who will be attending the Special Egg Event. We also provide FREE t-shirts for the first 300 children who are registered for Special Egg Event.
Q: Is there a cost for this event?
A: NO. This event is being organized by Journey Church in partnership with businesses, organizations, and individuals as sponsors to assure there is no cost to the families participating in the Special Egg Event. We realize that events like this are not common and we want you to enjoy it without being charged an entry fee to have fun.
Q: Is this event for siblings as well?
A: YES. All brothers and sisters at the event will be able to participate in our general egg hunt and other activities offered. Please register all children who will be participating.
Q: What are the ages for the egg hunts?
A: This event is specifically designed for children with special needs who would be considered an elementary school age. However, regardless of age, if your child would have fun participating at the event you are more than welcome to come be a part of this fun day!
Q: What are the egg hunt times?
A: The first Egg Hunt will start at 3:30pm. Each egg hunt will take place in 20 minute intervals. Specific start times will vary depending on the egg hunt your child will participate in. A schedule of each egg hunt start time will be provided in your registration packet.
Q: What happens if the weather is bad?
A: We're inside!
Q: What should my family and I expect at this event?
A: In addition to the egg hunts, there will be carnival games, food, art activities, several team mascots and kid-friendly characters, and an Easter Bunny to take pictures with children and their families. Plan on coming out and spending a great time enjoying this fabulous, family friendly atmosphere, you never know who you'll meet.
Q: What type of food and candy will be provided?
A: All candy inside the eggs will be individually wrapped. Not all eggs have candy, some have other prizes. We will also be providing a meal for your entire family.
Q: Where do I park?
A: There is a huge parking lot just north of the Jacobson Center, you will see parking attendants who will direct you where to park.
Q: Who is staffing this event?
A: The Special Egg Event is staffed by volunteers from Journey Church as well as the Special Olympics, VSA Iowa, ChildServe, Easter Seals Iowa, and other approved volunteers from the community.
Q: Who is putting this event on?
A: This event has been created by Journey Church out of a desire to make Des Moines a better place. Journey Church wants to display Christ's love in a way that people can feel and touch.
Q: Will this be a safe event?
A: YES. We are working hard to ensure the safety of all who participate in the Special Egg Event. We have requested the assistance of the local police, fire, and EMS departments. In addition, we will have a first aid station with trained medical staff on site.

Contact

For questions, media inquiries, or sponsorship information call 1-866-344-7676.