Candyland for children

Whoever thinks hunts for candy take place on a certain spring day in April hasn't heard about Bloomington's Candy Cane Hunt, a family-fun event celebrating winter's chilly arrival. \nThe city's 3rd annual Candy Cane Hunt will take place this Sunday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Thomson Park, located southwest of downtown. \nThe event, sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Village Deli, is open to pre-school through elementary age children and their parents. Admission costs $2.\nThe afternoon will include not just scampering around for the red and white swirled sweets but arts and crafts, cookie decorating and steaming hot cocoa. \nThe candy cane hunt starts at 3 p.m., but children can decorate bags to use for the hunt from 2 to 3 p.m. Parents and kids can also decorate and munch on the 200 candy cane cookies the Village Deli will contribute. Frosty the Snowman will be present, mingling and dancing with children during the hour.\n"It's kind of like seeing Santa Claus, but the kids like seeing Frosty, too," said Becky Barrick, community events manager for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.\nIn addition to regular canes, candy cane pens and pencils and golden candy canes, which children can redeem for prizes, will also be hidden. \nJulie Ramey, community relations manager for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said she plans to bring her two-year old son, Jeff. She thinks the hunt, which will be Jeff's first Parks and Recreation community event, will be enjoyable despite her son's young age.\n"He probably won't know what's going on like a seven year old would, but I think it will be a fun event for him to participate in anyway," Ramey said. "He'll like Frosty the Snowman." \nPeople who wish to participate in the event must pre-register by Dec. 6, which they can do by calling 349-3700.\nIU students comprise all 17 of the hunt's volunteers, who will help with registration and aid kids with the arts and crafts, said Kim Ecenbarger, special services coordinator for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.\n"That's pretty characteristic of a lot of our events that take place during the school time," Ecenbarger said. \nShe says IU students make-up 80 percent of Bloomington's Parks and Recreation's volunteer base from August through April. \nGosia Czech, a member of IU's marketing club and an intern for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, recruited the majority of the hunt's 17 volunteers from the marketing club. The club participates in volunteer projects twice a semester, mostly in Parks and Recreation community events.\n"It's great interaction with the community. Parks and Recreation always puts on great events," Czech said. \nThe Candy Cane Hunt usually draws between 100 to 150 participants - a figure that depends on the weather, Barrick says. But even if Sunday's weather is frigid, she encourages residents to still bundle up and come out for the hunt.\n"It's a fun way to start winter and do winter activities," Barrick said. "It's a great event that helps us welcome in winter"