More than 2,000 plastic, multi-colored Easter eggs will be falling from the sky on Saturday in Clanton.

Verbena Baptist Church is taking a different approach to the traditional Easter egg hunt by hosting the first EGGstravaganza starting at 11 a.m. The church is working with the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department and dropping eggs filled with candy from a helicopter at the Grand Ole Pumpkin Patch off Lay Dam Road.

Verbena Baptist Church pastor Tony Christensen said the helicopter will make three runs starting at noon and drop 750 eggs each run for the children that participate.

Once the eggs are dropped, kids ranging in age from 4-11 will participate in an “Easter egg dash” to pick up the eggs.

Christensen said the kids will be grouped together by ages 4 -5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-11 and will have a countdown until they can go pick the eggs up.

There will also be a hunt for 2-to 3-year-olds that will be held off to the side.

Christensen said although one of the reasons for hosting the egg hunt is for children to have fun before the Easter holiday, the main purpose is to teach kids the meaning of Easter.

“We will be presenting an Easter biblical message at the event,” Christensen said. “We will sing praise songs before the eggs are dropped from the air but we want to convey the true meaning of the Easter holiday.”

Anyone wanting to participate in the EGGstravaganza should bring an Easter basket to collect the eggs dropped. Christensen said concessions will also be available and sponsored by Care Net.

A trial run to see how the eggs would handle being dropped from the helicopter was held early Wednesday and Christensen said everything was a success.

“The force from the helicopter propeller pushes the eggs down to the ground,” Christensen said. “We dropped about 250 eggs and about 20 of them broke apart but it was OK because instead of the egg falling from the sky, it was candy.”

Christensen said rain is in the forecast for Saturday and if it rains the event will be cancelled.

“We should know by 9 a.m. if we are going to be able to have the event or not,” Christensen said. “If we cancel we will put a banner up indicating we won’t have the event to let everyone know.”

For more information about the event, visit www.verbenabaptist.org.