After two years of positive response from the Sumrall Community Easter Walk, officials from the Town of Sumrall are gearing up for what is hopefully an even bigger follow-up to that event, which includes a guided tour that brings small groups through a multi-scene event depicting the story of the Holy Week of Easter.
Registration for this year’s walk will begin at 2 p.m. March 24 at First Baptist Church of Sumrall, 169 Center Avenue in Sumrall. After registration, guided groups will leave approximately every 15 minutes for the free, family-friendly tour.
“Sumrall is about what we have, and what we have in Sumrall is a great community that is family-oriented,” Mayor Joel Lofton said. “It’s safe, and being able to get out and enjoy our neighbors and enjoy activities with our neighbors and kids, it’s something that’s very important to all of us.
“It’s what makes our community special, and we use the event to highlight that.”
The Easter Walk, which is held in partnership with several local churches, will include a handful of stops over a several-block walk, culminating with an Easter egg hunt, games and refreshments at the final stop.
“It’ll be an opportunity for families to come out and hear the Easter story, and have some activities and some fun times for kids,” Lofton said. “The event is free and there’s no charge whatsoever; we do registration in order to keep the groups in manageable size.
“We try to group about 20 to 30 at a time, and then once that group goes, we’ll start the next group getting ready. We’ll give out armbands when folks arrive, so we can call out for the groups.”
During the walk, representatives from each of the participating churches will take time to explain a separate part of the Easter story, including Palm Sunday and the Last Supper, to participants. From First Baptist Church, the event will move to Sumrall United Methodist Church and then to an area set up by The Springs Church on Main Street.
The walk will then move about two blocks to Lincoln Park Ministries, where representatives will tell the final part of the Easter story. Participants will then walk up the hill to Beam Park, which will offer photo opportunities and kids’ activities such as a fun jump.
Refreshments will be provided before and during an Easter egg hunt at the park.
“It was great last year; we had hundreds in attendance,” Lofton said. “This will be our third year, so we expect it to go just as well, if not even better.”
