In a pre-Easter celebration, hundreds of local children rushed forward to claim about $2,500 of candy contained in brightly colored plastic eggs on central campus Saturday.

Following a long tradition, the greek community played Easter Bunny Saturday morning, sprinkling central campus with more than 300 eggs.

As the Campanile bells announced the arrival of 10:30 a.m., the children began their hunt, and most of the eggs were in the hands, bags or baskets of children in less than five minutes.

Ten minutes before the hunt began, children of all different ages lined the central sidewalk, running from Curtiss Hall to the Campanile. Eager hunters, perched and ready to run, watched the fraternity and sorority members place the candy-filled eggs in the grass north and south of the Campanile.

Ten-year-old Rachel Overton of Ames stood with her family waiting for the hunt to begin. It was her first time at the hunt, and she said she wanted to find a lot of eggs.

Two Ames residents recounted their successes.

“I got 10 eggs,” said Eric Anderson, 10. His brother, Kevin, 7, said he snatched three eggs. The brothers were fairly certain that their mother would let them eat their candy after lunch.

The Anderson boys were excited to attend the free ISU Symphony Orchestra performance of “Peter and the Wolf” in the Music Hall following the hunt — and another Easter egg hunt at their grandma’s.

Following all the excitement, some participants swarmed toward a special visitor, the Easter Bunny.

Brian Tenclinger, assistant dean of students and coordinator of Greek Affairs, said the anticipation of the traditional hunt starts early. “I had parents calling me March 1 to see when we were having the hunt,” he said.

The fraternities and sororities spent time Thursday and Friday night filling the eggs, Tenclinger said.

“Each of the 52 organizations in the greek community spend at least $30 on candy, and most spend more,” he said.

Heather Milhous, member of Kappa Delta, 2102 Sunset Drive, said it was her first time helping out with the event.

“We help put the eggs together and then we each have a section in the grass to put our eggs in,” said Milhous, sophomore in pre-business. “It’s a great opportunity for the little kids.”

Andrew Wrightsman, vice president of Operations for the Interfraternity Council, said coordinating the hunt involved, among other things, recruiting students to help out and getting businesses to donate eggs.

“I heard 30 dozen,” said Wrightsman, sophomore in management and member of Delta Tau Delta, 2121 Sunset Drive, regarding the number of eggs the fraternity and sorority members prepared for the event.