In Chicago, the skies were dreary and rain fell intermittently on Saturday, yet the weather did little to deter families from reveling in the Easter weekend festivities.

The South Loop was abuzz with activity, as families participated in a variety of celebrations that included giveaways and eagerly anticipated Easter egg hunts. This event was just one among many happening throughout the Chicagoland area in preparation for the holiday.

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Across the city and its suburbs, Easter celebrations kicked off with a multitude of family-friendly activities, drawing in crowds despite the occasional rain.

“It’s truly wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves,” shared Martin and Amy Duncan, two attendees at the event. “Even with the weather being less than ideal, the energy and joy are palpable. People are smiling and greeting each other, and it’s just a lot of fun.”

A highlight of the day was the 19th annual Easter egg hunt at Chicago’s Women’s Park and Gardens in the South Loop. The event delighted children with 20,000 colorful plastic eggs filled with toys and candy. Exciting giveaways, including White Sox tickets for a few fortunate attendees, added to the thrill of the day. The joy among the children was infectious.

“It’s pretty fun,” said James Zielinski, another attendee. “There are so many eggs and lots of cool prizes you can win.”

There were more celebrations at Rutherford Sayre Park on the city’s Northwest Side for Bunny Palooza, where kids enjoyed another egg hunt, as well as some arts and crafts.

“It’s great to see our neighbors,” attendee Cynthia Chao said. “It’s like this is kind of the kick off the summer. I feel like where we get to see everyone again, we’re all coming out of hibernation and it’s a wonderful event.”

“I love seeing the community come together,” an attendee named Ashley said. “A lot of our regulars are here and then we have a lot of new faces here and it’s a wonderful day.”

Large crowds also gathered at the Lincoln Park Zoo for their egg hunt.

The fun also continued across the suburbs, with a helicopter egg drop in Aurora. Sweet treats dropped down from the sky for the 16th annual event hosted by Faith Lutheran Church.

In Schaumburg, more than 1,000 kids also got in on the action with another egg hunt at Bethel Baptist Church, featuring 20,000 eggs.

Many people will cap off the day with an Easter vigil Saturday evening. Holy Name Cathedral is hosting its own at 8 p.m.