By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster’s Church of God will continue a longstanding tradition in late March when it welcomes a helicopter hovering over the church campus dropping thousands of candy-filled Easter eggs for local children.

This will mark the sixth-straight year for the church’s helicopter egg drop, which will be held on Saturday, March 31, at the large field next to the church at 530 First Ave. W.

The church will begin welcoming families starting at 11:30 a.m., and will offer inflatables and games along with free popcorn and free snow cones. At about 1 p.m., the helicopter will hover above the field as it drops candy-filled plastic eggs for the first group of children.

As with last year’s event, this year will feature three separate egg drops for children of different ages, said church Pastor Ken Stroup. In total, the helicopter will drop a total of about 6,000 eggs during the three sessions, and the church will award door prizes to the kids throughout the day.

Stroup encouraged kids to register for the hunt when they arrive on March 31, as it will allow the church to provide kids with colored arm bands to organize them in the three age groups.

For more information about the church, visit Alabasterchurchofgod.org.