(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

BELPRE — A certain basket-bearing egg distributor will hop on over to Belpre Saturday after participating in this year’s Mid-Ohio Valley Easter Parade in Parkersburg.

The Easter Bunny will make appearances on both sides of the Ohio River this weekend as Belpre debuts its own holiday procession.

“We’ve never had one,” said Carrie Arnold, director of the Belpre Christmas Lights Pageant. “I am newer to the area, and I have made a pledge to myself to do some more community service. … My focus isn’t on the sash and crown or the title. My focus is on becoming involved in the community.”

Arnold said she’s gotten a great response for the inaugural Belpre Easter Parade, with word spread largely through word of mouth and social media.

“There is always a great turnout for any of the parade events that we’ve been to,” she said. “This is just something fun for the whole family.”

The parade will assemble behind the football stadium at Belpre High School and travel up Washington Boulevard to Civitan Park, where the Easter Bunny will be afterward.

About 35 vehicles have registered for the parade, Arnold said. While the event Facebook page set a deadline of Sunday to register, Arnold said groups that want to participate can still go there to fill out a registration form.

“If people are interested in participating, it’s free, it’s fun,” she said. “We hope to make this a tradition in the future.”

Another potential tradition follows in Civitan Park with a Glow Easter Egg Hunt organized by the Belpre Church of the Nazarene. Pastor Gary Webb said they had such a strong response — about 400 kids signed up — they had to close registration for this year’s event. But they’re already thinking about ways to do it again next year with more kids, churches and other organizations.

“We’re trying to do new things to connect with a younger generation here in Belpre,” Webb said. “We’re hoping to absolutely do it bigger and better next year and not have to cut off registration for it.”

Arnold said one reason the Belpre parade is in the evening is so it didn’t interfere with the 15th annual Mid-Ohio Valley Easter Parade in downtown Parkersburg. It’s set for 2 p.m., traveling from 19th Street down Market Street

“The weather’s going to be nice. There’s no rain, so that is a big plus so people can decorate floats,” organizer Kiki Angelos said. “We have a huge group of participants.”

The grand marshal for this year’s parade is Belpre resident Zach Wigal, who was named the United States Auto Club National Midget Rookie of the Year in 2024. Wigal started racing locally at age 7 and transitioned to full-size midgets in 2022, winning his first race at the age of 14.

Also participating in the parade will be members of West Virginia University’s cheerleading squad, many with ties to the area.

“That is something that our town will really enjoy,” Angelos said.

There’s still time for groups to join in the festivities. Registration begins at noon at 19th Street and Market Street.

“It’s a community event, and if somebody’s late, we don’t care,” Angelos said.