For 13 years, thousands have enjoyed the oohs and aahs, and the wonderment on the faces of little tikes overwhelmed in Easter-egg bliss.

It’s back!

For year number 13, the Our Promise to Nicholas Easter Egg Hunt Festival is called the INDOOR MAZE to the Egg Hunt & Easter Bunny, and is scheduled for Saturday April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the New Hampshire Sportsplex in Bedford.

It’s the return of the famous 10,000 plastic-colored eggs filled with candy and prizes that will blanket an indoor soccer field for children to gather in a controlled environment. Each family will receive a ticket with a specific time to enter the egg-gathering part of the event.

Families will hop along the bunny footprints path in a one-way direction through the New Hampshire Sportsplex to the egg hunt and photos with the Easter Bunny. There will be plenty of eggs for everyone. Sponsorship tables will be along the bunny path across two indoor soccer fields. Families can stop at each sponsorship table to find a “hidden egg.”

Along the maze journey, families will be able to listen to music, play a few kids’ games, partake in an obstacle course, take photos with several cute mascots, and enjoy a bunny hat craft. This year, the The Party Palace princess and pirates will join the festivities. Families may go through the maze portion of the event as many times as they desire.

Tickets are being sold online for $8 per person or $28 per family. By registering online at www.ourpromisetonicholas.com, attendees will be assured a speedy entry. Be sure to look for the “sign up genius” site to choose your arrival time. This will help spread out event-goers. OPTN will announce on its website the week of the event if they are able to sell additional tickets at door. Those tickets will be $10 per person and $32 per family. The New Hampshire Sportsplex field fills up fast, so advance tickets are suggested.

The New Hampshire Sportsplex is located at 68 Technology Drive in Bedford.

For additional information and for sponsorship information, visit www.ourpromisetonicholas.com or contact Heather Dainiak at heatherdainiak@hotmail.com.

Sponsors include the New Hampshire Sportsplex, Executive Health and Sports Center, Granite State Gastrointestinal Consultants, Catholic Medical Center, Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center, BASC Imaging, Derry Medical Center of Bedford, Derry Imaging, Elliot Hospital & Health System, Eastern Bank, Rothwangl Dental Care, London Family Orthodontics and Spectrum Marketing. Through the support of corporate sponsorships, local businesses, and community volunteers, in past year’s event was attended by 1500 guests who help raise $23,000 for the foundation. Our goal for 2022 is to continue to raise funds to support expert nursing care for children suffering from Batten Disease, collaborate with clinicians at MGH to support a clinic for children with batten disease and rare diseases and support further research and science for this rare disease.