GALT, CA (MPG) - Although a rainy forecast threatened to dampen spirits at Eggstravaganza and Kite Day last Saturday, the weather cleared in time for the annual celebration of gigantic kites and Easter fun.

The day included an Easter egg hunt, with more than 10,000 candy-filled eggs scattered around the grounds of McFarland Living History Ranch, and the Easter Bunny was available for pictures. Competitions included a pie-eating contest and an egg drop.

Galt Area Historical Society puts on the event, and organizers Lisa Houg and Darlene Alden said they were pleased with the turnout. Early-morning rain gave way to relatively sunny conditions for the festival hours.

“Even this morning, I wasn’t sure all the people would show up but we had quite a crowd,” Houg said. 

She enjoyed “just seeing the kids get the eggs and get all excited about the Easter Bunny and facepainting,” also noting the array of food trucks and local vendors who turned out.

“Oh, and then the kites.  They’re just having a blast,” Houg added.

While Kite Day attendees flew their kites on the McFarland grounds, Central Valley Kite Flyers members set up huge kites in a field. When the wind picked up, they launched the kites, shaped like colorful manta rays and trilobites, up into the air.

Old City Kites, a store based in Old Sacramento, had a booth selling kites. Owner Anwar Khan said the kite weather was “not bad at all,” with the rain gone.

“We have a few kites up in the air and it looks like a good day for an outing with the kids,” Khan said. 

Children and their parents were enjoying playing with their smaller kites, according to Khan, with designs ranging from dragons and birds to American flags and Elsa from “Frozen.”

In the final activity, Central Valley Kite Flyers brought out a special kite designed to drop candy, and children made a mad dash to pick up sweets after they fell from the sky.

Alden expressed gratitude for help from various Galt groups in mounting the event, in particular 4-H and FFA clubs and the Galt Teen Center. Family, friends and historical society volunteers also pitched in before and during the festival.

She also thanked the historical society docents, who led tours of the McFarland ranch house. McFarland Living History Ranch (8898 Orr Road) is open for free tours from 1 to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of the month.

“It’s just so nice to see the community here and hopefully, it will bring people to see this house more often, to know that it’s out here,” Alden said.