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LAPLACE — Here comes Peter Cottontail, riding down the St. John trail. Hippity, Hoppity, Easter is still on its way.

Kristina Haydel of LaPlace knew her 2-year-old daughter wouldn’t have the traditional Easter photoshoot at the mall this year. Instead, Haydel focused on what her family does have — an Easter Bunny costume, a vehicle, and a desire to bring some holiday happiness to their St. John the Baptist Parish community.

The Easter Bunny costume, purchased two years ago for a Relay for Life fundraiser, took on a new purpose this week during a four-hour long car ride through the East Bank of St. John Parish. Children raced out into their front yards from River Forest in LaPlace to the western edge of Garyville, giddy at the sight of the Easter Bunny waving from a car.

Families got their Easter photos after all; only this time the Easter Bunny was in the background, a safe distance away.

Haydel was the chauffeur for the Easter Bunny this past Sunday. Her mother, Crystal Clement, was in the suit, and her 2-year-old daughter was along for the ride. Haydel told L’OBSERVATEUR her family looked forward to taking more rides through St. John during the week, taking special care to visit the families of the West Bank.

“Even though it’s not a normal Easter Bunny picture that you would get at the mall or with a regular photographer, we figured we would commemorate the time that we’re in right now,” Haydel said. “It’s kind of a somber time, but let’s still get a little bit of joy out of it and let kids see the bunny. They aren’t going to have contact with him, but they’ll still get their pictures. Parents can print it out and remember Easter the way we had to celebrate it this year.”

Haydel said the children were excited and surprised. From their looks of joy, you would never guess they were faced with a total change of pace from life as they knew it before COVID-19.

Lindsey Vicknair of LaPlace said her young children were elated to see the Easter Bunny pass by Sunday afternoon.

“My boys are missing their school, their friends, their teachers and spending time with extended family,” Vicknair said. “Seeing the Easter Bunny calmed their fears about him not being able to come to their house because of the virus, too. Kristina and Mrs. Crystal gave us a little Easter Bunny magic, and we appreciated it so much!”

Haydel’s daughter is typically afraid of Santa Claus and staged holiday photos, but she was more than happy to join the Easter Bunny on a long ride. Haydel discovered several children along the route who are typically scared of costumes were a little braver this time around.

“I think it was just excitement to have something out of their everyday routine instead of sitting at home without any other social aspect in their lives,” she said. “It’s something out of the norm for them. It was nice to see the excitement on their faces and them lighting up.”

This year, Haydel and her daughter plan to celebrate Easter with less knick-knack toys and more outdoor-oriented activities. Haydel also looks forward to her turn dressing as the bunny in more rides through St. John Parish.

“It was a good experience for me and for my family to just give back,” Haydel said. “At this time, it’s hard to do anything to help out others in the same boat. I’m very grateful that we were able to bring some big smiles to the faces of our small community.”