By EMILY REED / Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – Roughly 20,000 plastic Easter eggs will descend from a helicopter flying over Veterans Park April 15 as part of an annual egg drop hosted by Cultivate Church.

This will be the fourth year for the event, after the church hosted two egg drops in 2012 and 2013 and brought the event back in 2016.

“We have continued to do the drop because the county loves it,” said Cultivate Lead Team Pastor Brandon Matthews. “When people stop enjoying it we will find something else to do. We feel like sometimes churches are known for what what they want from people. There are always fundraisers, bake sales, car washes, etc. Although those things are fine, we don’t do that as a church. We want people to know our church wants something for you and not something from you. We want to be a blessing to our city. It is what we are here for.”

The free event will begin with on-site registration at 9 a.m. and the egg drop will begin at 10:30 a.m.

There are egg hunts for ages 0-3 with the grounds at Veterans Park scattered with plastic eggs for the younger ages, and two helicopter drops for ages 4-6 and 7-12.

Matthews said there will also be inflatables, free food, drinks, and the Easter bunny.

“Anytime families can come together for a free day, there is nothing better,” Matthews said. “It is not about our church or even a specific community, it is about providing a fun atmosphere to bless those around us.”

The egg drop is just part of a series of events the church will host over Easter weekend including a Good Friday worship experience from 6-7 p.m. April 14, an Easter celebration on April 16 at 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., and the Easter bunny will show up Sunday morning with fun and prizes for kids.

Matthews said the church has established several relationships with different pilots over the years, and this year Brian Coshatt will return as the pilot to drop the eggs over Veterans Park.

Families interested in the event can pre-register online and pick up their wristbands the day of the event.

The wristband helps to identify the age of the child, and which drop they should participate, according to Matthews.

For more information, visit www.theeggdrop.tv for more information on the event and to register.