Author of the article: PNI Atlantic Published Apr 13, 2025 • 2 minute readThe Vooght Market, a co-operative of farmers and crafters on Commercial Street, took part in Saturday’s North Sydney Downtown Bunny Hop. It was a popular place to visit and drew a lineup with its Easter treats for kids. Above, Hayley MacRitchie hands out some goodies to, from left at the front of the line, Asher Campbell, 6; Mac McDermid, 2, and Aveya McDermid, 5. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST Laura Moore, of La Quaintrelle in North Sydney, was one of several store and business employees who sat outside in Saturday’s beautiful sunshine greeting families — and especially the little ones — who came downtown to visit shops and get Easter treats. Close to 25 main street businesses took part in the fourth annual Downtown Sydney Easter Bunny Hop. Above, five-year-old twins, Max and Lillix Sova of Leitches Creek, show by their smiles how much fun they’re having. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POSTIt was a perfect day. The sun was shining. Little ones and parents were out in their best Easter bunny ears walking up and down the main street of North Sydney on Saturday morning having an egg-citing time. It was the fourth annual North Sydney Easter Bunny Hop on Commercial Street. “I’m having so much fun,” a radiant Lillix Sova said. And the five-year-old from Leitches Creek just had to add that the best thing of all was the chocolate. The smiles on all the faces of the dozens of children confirmed its success. “This has been an incredible day,” said Sherry Finney, a member along with her partner, Paul Finney, of the North Sydney Business Improvement and Development Association. “This event just keeps growing every year.”THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content It wouldn’t be a Bunny Hop without the Easter bunny. Pay Less Dollar Deals was another of the businesses on Commercial St. in downtown North Sydney who went above and beyond with their ” hoppitality” for the kids on Saturday. The Easter Bunny was on hand to give out treats to a long lineup of families in front of the store at the fourth annual North Sydney Downtown Bunny Hop. Above, three-year-olds Levi Keeping and Laura Smith were a little shy in front of the bunny. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POSTBusinesses all along the main street were set up with Easter decorations of bunnies, eggs and flowers outside on the sidewalks to welcome the shoppers downtown. Stores had baskets and boxes of Easter treats and were handing them out to children as they came. And of course, the Easter bunny was also handing out chocolate and at the regional library site, children could sit on the bunny’s knee and have their photo taken before leaving with an easter picture to colour and some aptly named Smarties. The Easter bunny was in front of the Wilfred Oram Library Saturday morning greeting all the children and families in downtown North Sydney for the fourth annual Bunny Hop. Above, Elan Frison, 4, and his sister, Charlee Frison, 3, drove all the way from New Waterford for the event. Their mom, Taylor Ianetti, says it’s an annual treat for the family. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST“This is so special for us,” said parent Taylor Ianetti, who travelled with her children, Elan and Charlie, all the way from New Waterford. “We come every year.” Paul Finney, one of the organizers of a street cleanup that happened afterwards to get rid of all the debris blown around into the commercial core over the winter, said he was grateful to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for closing the main street for several blocks downtown. It really made for a safe and welcoming event for all. From left, eight-year-old Lexie Hann and her brother, Levi Hann, 5, were just two of the dozens of children taking advantage of the great weather and the generosity of businesses such as Bonnar’s Bakery on Saturday in North Sydney. Close to 25 businesses in town took part in the fourth annual North Sydney Downtown Bunny Hop. Joan Bonnar was outside to greet all the families and give out Easter-themed treats. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST“We had about 23 businesses take part and about 15 more people participate in the cleanup,” Finney said. “It’s been a great family event and good for the businesses. It just makes everyone feel good!” Both Finneys commented that there are a lot of activities being planned for the summer when tourists come to town. They suggest that people wanting to keep up with what’s going on can check out the website, downtownnorthsydney.ca, or the Downtown North Sydney Facebook page. In one of her first spring outings, nine-month-old Avery James Gillis was able to meet the Easter bunny. She and her cousins, Evelyn Duff, 10, and Casey Duff, 5 of Groves Point travelled in for the North Sydney Downtown Bunny Hop on Saturday. It was a real family outing filled with aunts, uncles and parents who met together in front of Trinity’s Florals on Commercial Street to take in some sun and fun. ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POST ROSEMARY GODIN/CAPE BRETON POSTRosemary Godin is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter for the Cape Breton PostArticle content
IN PHOTOS: North Sydney welcomes families for Easter Bunny Hop
