How long does it take for a crowd of eager kids to find 2,015 hidden Easter eggs? At Meridian Waste鈥檚聽3rd Annual Big, Bright Earth Day Party & Easter Egg Hunt, it took just聽110 seconds鈥攁nd not a single egg was left behind! Held on Saturday, April 19th, at聽Shotwell Environmental Park, the event welcomed more than 500 local residents for a day of fun, learning, and celebration in honor of聽Earth Day 2025. With green pastures as the backdrop and a working industrial landfill at its heart, the event showcased Meridian Waste鈥檚 commitment to sustainability, education, and community.
鈥淲e believe in opening our gates to the community鈥攏ot just to explain what we do, but to build lasting connections,鈥� said聽Patrick Messinger, Area President of Meridian Waste in North Carolina. 鈥淪hotwell isn鈥檛 just a landfill鈥攊t鈥檚 a vital part of protecting our environment. And today, it was also a place for smiles, sunshine, and shared joy.鈥�
The family-friendly celebration was packed with interactive attractions:
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽A聽petting zoo聽featuring goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and even a miniature donkey and horse.
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Inflatable games and field activities to keep the energy high.
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽The always-popular聽Touch-A-Truck聽experience where kids could explore real-life waste and recycling vehicles.
路聽聽聽聽聽聽聽A聽free hot fried chicken lunch, served picnic-style under open skies.
But the star event? The聽noon Easter Egg Hunt, split into three age groups (2鈥�4, 5鈥�7, and 8鈥�10), with each group racing to find five hidden聽鈥淓arth Eggs鈥濃�攕pecial prizes awarded to 15 lucky children.
Within just under two minutes, all 2,015 candy- and prize-filled eggs had been scooped up鈥攁n impressive feat that left even the staff stunned.
More than 50% of attendees also participated in聽guided hayride tours聽of the landfill, gaining insight into Meridian Waste鈥檚 environmental practices and the importance of proper waste disposal and recycling. The tours offered an up-close look at how waste is managed responsibly, with an emphasis on safety, sustainability, and community transparency.
Meridian Waste is already planning its聽next free community event聽at Shotwell Environmental Park, scheduled for聽Saturday, August 16, 2025. The 鈥淓nd-of-Summer Splash Bash鈥� will feature a giant slip & slide and a classic summer picnic lunch鈥攑erfect for cooling down and celebrating the last days of summer break.