PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library’s Akeley Gallery quickly filled with more than 50 children and their family members for the third annual Easter Bunny Tea Party on Saturday afternoon.
Just one day before Easter, party participants piled finger sandwiches, cupcakes, bread and chocolate onto their plates and settled in for a meal of sweets and tea before paying a visit to the Easter bunny. The event also featured arts and crafts in the children’s section of the library.
Aurora Thompson, 2 ½, had her picture taken with her 9-month-old sister Amelia and the bunny.
“This was their first time meeting the Easter bunny,” the girls’ mother said. “It’s a very nice event and they had a lot of fun.”
After the Easter bunny came back from a quick break, Zachariah Poisson, 3, of Mapleton, didn’t hesitate to have his picture taken with the iconic character. His brother Jeremiah, 2, decided to just watch this year and stayed with his mom and dad, Nikki and Josh Poisson.
“She was nice,” Zachariah said, about the Easter bunny.
“It’s an awesome event for kids and well put together. We thought it would be a good chance to bring our boys to meet the Easter bunny,” said Nikki Poisson, whose daughter Rhianna, 9, was a volunteer at the tea party.
Children’s Librarian Melissa St. Pierre said that the library had hosted Easter events in the past, but turned the Easter bunny’s visit into a full-blown tea party three years ago. Eight volunteers were on hand to prepare food and drinks.
“I most enjoy the looks on the children’s faces when they see the Easter bunny. They always have such a good time with this event,” St. Pierre said.