On Saturday, May 13, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden sported a new look: a colorful carpet of 18,000 plastic eggs. These treasures were distributed bright and early that morning by a crew of devoted volunteers, just a handful of many who, along with NOMA staff, worked for months to pull off a record-breaking event.

This year’s festival, chaired by Emily Arata and Rebecca Friedman, brought in more than $30,000 and attracted 1,400 attendees. This success was due in large part to our generous supporters, including our two lead sponsors, Ochsner Health System and Catherine Burns Tremaine, as well as dozens of individual and corporate sponsors from around the community. We can also credit the cooperative weather and a lineup of activities and entertainment that included face-painting, bunny-themed arts and crafts, a spirited DJ – and a seemingly endless supply of rainbow ice pops!

Tremendous thanks to the advance team who logged dozens of hours in the NOMA basement stuffing (often recalcitrant) eggs, sorting chocolate favors, preparing mailings, and more. We are also grateful to the volunteers who staffed the festival, anchoring tablecloths against the wind, overseeing art projects, distributing hot dogs, and of course, managing the bar. Your efforts made it a truly special day – for children of all ages.