Easter isn’t until Sunday. But there will be plenty of holiday spirit in Wilmington on Saturday afternoon.

The Recreation Department’s annual Easter Egg Hunt kicks off at 2 p.m. And when they say it kicks off at 2 p.m., they mean it. The madness starts right on time, and is normally over within 10 minutes as children dash for 7,000 plastic eggs filled with sweet treats.

“It really is a sight to behold,” said Recreation Director Deborah Cipriani. “All you can see is the ground covered in bright plastic eggs. It looks so pretty. Within five minutes, it’s gone. It’s truly is something to be seen.”

Last year the event was moved into the Wilmington High School cafeteria because of rainy weather. But this year’s forecast is much better, and children should be able to take to Town Common in full force.

The 7,000 eggs were filled in the days leading up to the hunt by local senior citizens. Cipriani said their volunteer efforts are a sign of the big picture relationship the department hopes to foster.

“It’s a generational program,” she said. “The seniors are excited to do something for the younger children. The event is great because it brings out a lot of families, and they get to spend some time together after the hunt is over.”

Wilmington’s first hunt was in 1972, and the structure of the event has remained ever since.

“We’ve stuck with what works well. Why change what’s working?” said Cipriani. “When the siren goes off, they’re off and running.”