Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont will host its third annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12. The free event, held from 1 to 3 p.m., provides visually impaired and blind children and their families an opportunity to participate in a non-traditional Easter egg hunt.
The specially designed plastic eggs, built and donated by the Stafford County-based International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, emit a beeping sound that allows visually impaired children to retrieve the eggs using their sense of hearing. The event also includes “touch” and “verbal imaging tours” of Gari Melcher’s studio and home, which will allow visitors to explore the various features of Belmont. Games, Wegman’s-sponsored healthy snacks, a visit with the Easter bunny, a miniature horse petting zoo and a “Touch a Tractor” station will round out the day’s activities.
Families should RSVP to the egg hunt at (540) 654-1851 by Wednesday, April 9. The event will be held rain or shine.
Gari Melchers Home and Studio is a 28-acre estate and former residence of the artist Gari Melchers and his wife Corinne. The property, which is operated by the University of Mary Washington, is both a Virginia Historic Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. Located at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth, Va., a quarter mile west of the intersection of U.S. 1 and U.S. 17, it is open daily with an admission charge. The museum also serves as the official Stafford County Visitor Center. For directions and other information, call (540) 654-1015 or visit the museum website at www.GariMelchers.org.
