Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
After six years of bringing neighbors together, a beloved Easter tradition in Prattville is coming to a close as local artist and small-business owner Julianne Hansen prepares to host her seventh and final Easter Ornament Hunt, a community event that has drawn hundreds of families downtown year after year.
Hansen, owner of Julianne Hansen Fine Art and Pottery, will hold the event Saturday, April 4, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until all ornament cards are found. This year’s hunt will include extra prizes donated by local businesses in addition to the signature handcrafted ornaments. This free event has become a seasonal highlight for families across the River Region.
“It has been an honor for me to be able to provide this to the community. We do this out of the kindness of our hearts because we know what community means. Another thing I find cool is that when we are downtown and people are looking, they look as families and couples. They do not have their faces on their phones. They are actively engaging with family members and friends. There is no digital element to this whatsoever. It is just to enjoy the beauty of what we have around downtown. You can enjoy the scenery, and I have had many people tell me that they have never seen this part of downtown before. I have never seen the historic marker before. To me, it just thrills me because it brings people into downtown Prattville,” said Hansen.
Participants will search throughout downtown for official ornament cards, which can be redeemed at Hansen’s shop for a handcrafted ornament at no cost. To keep the experience fair and accessible, organizers will hide only the cards — not the ornaments themselves.
Each person present may redeem one card for a single ornament, with no exceptions. Cards must be redeemed by 3 p.m. on the day of the event and will not be honored afterward.
Hansen said all cards will be placed in easy-to-find, public locations and in plain sight. Participants are asked to respect the area by not disturbing flowers, planters, or landscaping. Cards will not be hidden in mailboxes or inside businesses.
Once a card is found and redeemed, participants are encouraged to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #prattvilleornamenthunt and tagging the business.
The event remains completely free, with all ornaments handmade and provided by Hansen. Additional ornaments will be available for purchase at her downtown shop.
“We have had so much fun creating these ornaments and hiding the cards,” Hansen said. “We sincerely hope everyone enjoys this year’s event as much as we often have over the years.”
As the tradition comes to an end, Hansen said she hopes the community will gather one last time, not just to search for ornaments, but to celebrate the connections, creativity, and simple moments that have made the Easter Ornament Hunt a meaningful part of downtown Prattville.
