Despite misplaced egg drop, hundreds turn out for Willard Easter celebration
WILLARD, NC (WWAY)– Crowds gathered Saturday afternoon in Pender County, filling a field with excitement as families and children waited for one of the day’s biggest highlights — an Easter egg drop from above. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite as planned, leaving many surprised.
There was no shortage of food, sunshine and excitement Saturday afternoon as hundreds of people gathered for the “Tate Farm at the Pond Easter Extravaganza and Egg Drop” in Willard.
But one key part of the celebration didn’t go quite as planned — the eggs.
At 4 p.m., a plane was scheduled to drop hundreds of Easter eggs over a designated field, drawing eager children and families ready for the hunt. Instead, the aircraft made several passes without releasing the eggs, prompting organizers to direct the crowd back to their starting positions.
“Once we all got on the field, the airplane came by a couple of times and we were all told to go back to where we started again because the plane couldn’t drop the eggs,” one attendee said. “At that point, I left. It was getting dangerous because people were getting upset. I was worried about people and children getting stampeded.”
When the eggs were finally released, they didn’t land in the intended area. Instead, many fell on the opposite side of the field, some landing near a wooded area.
Even so, many families pressed on, determined to enjoy the event. “I think they’re in the woods, but we are still going to have a good time,” another attendee said.
Farm owner Jimmy Tate said gusty winds played a role in the mishap, pushing the eggs off course during the drop.
“I apologize that when the flight was delivered today, and the plane came in with the Easter eggs, some of them went into the fields and some of them went into the woods,” Tate said. “That caused a little of an issue, but we are making it right at Tate Farm.”
Organizers had expected around 200 people for the inaugural event, but nearly four times that number showed up.
“I wanted to bring everybody together various groups and backgrounds,” he said. “People are here today from Wilmington, Fayetteville, Pender County, Duplin, and other places. It feels really good to enjoy the evening, and the band with them tonight.”
Tate says it was heartwarming to see just how many were there, having fun on the farm that’s been in his family for years.
“Next year, we know how to better plan to make it even bigger and better,” he said. “We know that people will come to Willard for our Easter egg hunt. We are going to make next year even more awesome.”
In addition to the egg drop, there were about a dozen vendors and entertainment by the “EZ Livin Band”.
