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Hoppin’ times: Shepherdstown to enjoy first Easter market, Easter egg hunt this Saturday

By Tabitha Johnston - Chronicle Staff | Apr 15, 2022

The collection box for Easter egg and candy donations is at the War Memorial Building, through Saturday at 1 p.m. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In anticipation for the arrival of Easter on Sunday, Shepherdstown will be hopping with Easter-related events this Saturday, including the first Shepherdstown Easter Market and the return of Easter egg hunts in downtown Shepherdstown.

Both of these events are being orchestrated by Wild Rose Soap Company owner Michelle Kwiatkowski, with assistance from co-organizers Mike Powers and Curt Shade.

“We began planning the Easter Market at this year’s Valentine Market,” Kwiatkowski said. “Our artists were excited by a day of great sales, and we noticed that area businesses, like the restaurants and the coffee house and bakery were benefiting from all the traffic of people that was coming to our art market.”

The Shepherdstown Easter Market will take place in the War Memorial Building on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eighteen local artisans will be selling at the event, including: Wild Rose Soap Company (soaps, lotions and bath bombs), Drakiln Glass (fused glass jewelry and gifts), Shade’s Farm (raw honey and beeswax candles), Good Vibes Pottery (pottery gifts), Sister Sue’s Jams & Jellies, Panhandle Cottage Goods (candles, lotions, wax melts and sewing), Stephanie’s Sweet & Treats (T-shirts, candy and baked goods), The Common Tote (handmade wallets and bags), Can’t Afford Diamonds (resin jewelry), Doggy Donuts (edible donuts for dogs), My Way Designs (jewelry), Firefly the Fairy Cat’s Magical Creations (homemade fudge, organic catnip toys, fairy gardens and wreaths), Salted Sprinkles Signature Treats (sugar cookies in unique designs), Rustic Welds (metal art), Doug’s Rugs and The Good Vibes Dealer Custom Creations.

“I thought it would be a fun addition to bring families to town for an egg hunt, who may pop in for the craft fair, and also a side benefit for area businesses, if the families shop around after or eat at restaurants,” Kwiatkowski said, noting this is not the first community Easter egg hunt she has held, as she led one last year at Morgan’s Grove Park. “I also thought the Easter egg hunt would be a good idea, after noticing that our area seemed in need of a free Easter egg hunt and activities for kids to do on Easter weekend.”

According to Kwiatkowski, the deciding factor for holding these events was when the town briefly considered bringing back its annual Easter Parade, which has not taken place since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. Unfortunately, it turned out that there weren’t enough volunteers available to help bring the Easter Parade into fruition this year, but in spite of that fact, plans for the market and egg hunt continued being made.

The Shepherdstown Easter Egg Hunt will begin on the lawn of McMurran Hall on Saturday at 2 p.m. Up until an hour before the hunt is set to begin, Easter egg and candy donations will be accepted for the hunt, via a donation box at the War Memorial Building.

“We’re relying solely on community donations — the artists are each bringing a dozen or two eggs as a donation,” Kwiatkowski said, mentioning she could also use help with hiding the eggs. “I have two artists who have volunteered to come out around 1:30 p.m. to help me hide eggs around town. Anyone who would like to help is appreciated. We’d love donations of candy and eggs, as well as the donation of time by people to hide eggs.

“It’s going to be a fun day, I think! I hope many families will enjoy,” Kwiatkowski said.