No egg hunts? No problem. 'Easter Bunny' still offers 'something to smile about' in Niles

NILES — Every spring, they plant their cotton-tailed bottoms on pastel thrones for meet-and-greet photo ops and bounce around to egg hunts, hiding special candy-filled surprises for children.

That won’t happen this year, as all Easter-related events across Michiana have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But adversity never stopped Santa Claus from making his rounds, and Carolyn Gale says it won’t stop the Easter Bunny, either.

Gale is a 65-year-old Niles resident who has taken to the streets dressed up as a 5-foot-tall bunny. Over the last two weeks, she’s been hopping around outside the Niles District Library and downtown as the Easter Bunny, waving to cars as they pass by.

“This is my way of letting the little ones know that Easter is still very much alive,” Gale said. “The Easter Bunny loves and misses them so much.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb issued state-wide “stay at home” orders last month to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Residents have been ordered to stay at home except for essential purposes, and all in-person public and private gatherings have been canceled or postponed until further notice.

Gale, whose schedule is usually packed with Easter egg hunts and other festivities around this time of year, said she was disappointed by the news and knew so many others would be, too. She “couldn’t just sit back and forget Easter” — she had to do something to help spread holiday cheer, while also practicing social distancing.

So far, the reactions have been positive. Kids have stuck their heads out of open sun roofs and windows to wave back with big smiles. Parents have given Gale the thumbs-up. And some families have even stopped to grab a quick picture with the Easter Bunny on the sidewalk.

“Even some adults are yelling, ‘Oh my God! Look, there’s the Easter Bunny!’” Gale said. “It brings so much warmth to my heart.”

Lisa Croteau, program manager for Niles DDA Main Street, has worked with Gale for many years. She said Gale’s well known in the area for attending community events dressed up as other holiday characters, such as Ms. Claus.

“She’s just wonderful. So many people find it inspiring that she’s out all dressed up,” Croteau said, adding that this was the first time in decades that egg hunts have been postponed across the city.

Bad weather wouldn’t even shut down events. “It’s unprecedented,” she said.

“We don’t know when we’ll be able to do things again,” Croteau said. “To see the Easter Bunny out there, that little piece of normal in this, it brings joy.”

Gale initially followed in her mother’s footsteps and started dressing up as the Easter Bunny more than 30 years ago. But her love for cosplay started long before that. She would dress up for every holiday — St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving and Halloween — growing up and through adulthood.

“My mom was a character, just like me. I remember watching her dressing up as the Easter Bunny at the American Legion and egg hunts and how much it pleased her and how happy it made everyone else,” Gale said. “When she stopped, I took over and put on the costume. And then I went nuts.”

At one point, she had more than 100 costumes, props and wigs.

“I had everything, I mean everything!” Gale said with a chuckle. “From Dorothy’s magical ruby red slippers to Toto’s basket.”

Over the last few years, Gale said her health has made it more difficult to perform all of the characters, so she decided to donate her outfits and accessories to the Niles High School Drama Club.

Gale said she’s “young at heart, always has been” and has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. She’ll keep dressing up and working to bring happiness to other Niles residents during these stressful, uncertain times.

“With this gloomy stuff we’re going through right now,” she said, “we need to have something to smile about.”