Easter eggs and animals feature in Siesta Key's Easter Egg Hunt

By Ian Swaby
| 5:45 p.m. April 19, 2025

Siesta Key
Neighbors

The Astad family may have come all the way from Norway, but they said they also love the community in Siesta Key.

While visiting family in the area, they attended the annual Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, on April 19.

“We’re just having a good time here,” said Tord Astad, noting the "great events" in the area.

Taking place on the grounds of Siesta Key Chapel, the event included Easter egg hunts, with other offerings such as greetings with the Easter Bunny, a petting zoo, and games and activities.

Marisa Merlino, marketing and event manager at the Siesta Key Chamber, said the Chamber tries to make the event “bigger and better” each year, and said guests this year especially enjoyed the petting zoo by RCC Farm Experience.

She noted the event welcomes various organizations, including the Child Protection Center and Girl Scouts, while it made possible each year by the chapel's lending of the space.

"It's my favorite event of the year that the Chamber puts on, because it really does bring the community together," she said.

The Astad family, who came from Norway, included Tord, his daughter Sonia, 5, his wife Anne, his daughter Kaia, who is 10 months old and his son William, 3.

Zachary Perez, 6, and his brother Nate Perez, 8, start out on the egg hunt.

Siblings Pippa Neff, 9, Archer Neff, 4 and Axel Neff, 6, meet the Easter Bunny.

Penelope McCauley, 8, a Girl Scouts brownie, holds a bunny.

Lil' Light enjoys some leaves with the help of Hanna Pajdak, 7.

Bradley Wade, 8, meets Mikey Hendrickson, a firefighter and EMT with Station 13 in Siesta Key.

Hunter Kneifl, 1, hunts for Easter eggs.

Madison McCauley, Girl Scouts brownie, reaches for a hard-to-find Easter Egg.

Laila Mileto, 7 and her sister Liliana Mileto, 9, of New York, celebrated their birthday with hats made by their grandfather Ricky Mileto, who lives in Sarasota and Siesta Key with their grandmother Fran Mileto.

Kim Tropf of the Kiwanis Club and Kate Kochis and Jeanne Holpp of the Siesta Key Chamber staffed the games area.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.