Hundreds Join Free Community Easter Picnic at Petrack Park

Hundreds of parents and children filled Petrack Park on Saturday for a free Easter picnic that gave Pahrump families a low-cost holiday outing with food, games and an egg scramble. The annual gathering drew strong turnout to the town’s main regional park, where volunteers served hamburgers and hot dogs at no charge and more than two dozen booths helped turn the afternoon into a full community event.

Children moved from booth to booth collecting treat-filled eggs as the Easter egg scramble unfolded across the park, while a duck race with squirt guns added to the playful pace of the day. Organizers also set up other activities, including the Pahrump Disability Outreach Program’s mechanical bull and train ride, along with snow cones, kettle corn and cotton candy for attendees. Special Golden Easter Eggs handed out by the Easter Bunny were part of the mix as families wandered through the park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The picnic was organized by the Pahrump Holiday Task Force and the Pahrump Disability Outreach Program, groups that have built the event into a long-running local tradition. The task force said it had been hosting the Community Easter Picnic with PDOP for more than 10 years, and that each year it gets bigger and better. Before this year’s event, 22 organizations were signed up to take part, with space still available for others that wanted to bring a game or activity for children.

That structure has helped make the picnic more than a seasonal celebration. PDOP says its mission is to provide social and emotional support for special needs children and their families in Pahrump, and the free booth setup gives local groups a way to show up, hand out candy-filled eggs and share information about their services without charging families for admission. Petrack Park, at 150 NV-160, has the size and amenities to handle the crowd, from playgrounds and sports areas to the Bob Ruud Community Center and community pool.

The event’s scale has held steady in recent years. In 2024, organizers estimated about 500 people came out despite rainy weather, with 4,500 eggs distributed and 500 hamburgers and 600 hot dogs served. The year before, more than 4,000 plastic eggs were filled with candy and the picnic later drew 1,000 people. This year’s turnout again showed why the free picnic remains one of Pahrump’s most practical holiday traditions, giving families an easy way to celebrate close to home.