For the second year in a row, the 16th annual Schnucks Easter Egg Hunt was held indoors at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau because of soggy conditions.

Beginning at 9 a.m. with children ages 2 to 3 -- and with a little bit of help from parents -- the floor was picked clean of a variety of treats within a few minutes.

Daniel and Christina Clark brought their two daughters, 2-year-old Cheyanne and 7-year-old Ciarra.

"I think it was me that was most excited about it," Daniel Clark said with a smile. "I just love watching them run around, seeing their faces light up. It's precious."

The indoor Easter egg hunt included traditional plastic eggs containing candy scattered about on the floor as well as a number of other items such candy, cookies, cakes and cans of soda serving as camouflage.

The variety of offerings received a warm greeting from at least one participant.

"You know, she just doesn't like sweets a whole lot," said Carissa Wilmarth of Cape Girardeau about her 6-year-old daughter, Abby. "What she does like are all the different chips and especially the cheese goldfish crackers."

Abby was in the second group, for ages 4 to 6, who hit the floor at 9:30. One minute and 40 seconds later, the floor had been cleared.

"With these kids it sure don't take long to get it all," said Robert Schultz, whose grandchildren participated.

"It's so nice that it's inside," Laura James of Cape Girardeau said. "There have been some years when it was just too mushy outside so this is much better." Soggy soil brought the hunt indoors last year as well.

"They have just as much fun, and the weather isn't a factor," said Schnucks manager Dennis Marchi. He said the event drew close to 2,500 children this year. "Originally, we were going to have it at Arena Park. Even though it hasn't rained this morning, the ground was still too soft."

Each year, Schnucks, in cooperation with various vendors, donates several thousand dollars' worth of merchandise.

"We started it because we noticed that some customers would come into the store and not be able to buy candy for Easter," Marchi said.

"I just want to thank Pepsi, River Radio and especially the Parks and Recreation Department for once again making it a success," Marchi said.