Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Sorry kids, but there will not be an Easter egg hunt in Old Colorado City this year.

The free Springtime event held at Bancroft Park attracts hundreds of families every year. Thousands of candy-filled plastic eggs are scattered across the park for kids to collect. But, thanks to greedy parents, the annual event has been cancelled.

"It's sort of got out of hand," Dave Van Ness, executive director for the Old Colorado City Associates, said.

Organizers of the hunt said parents are getting to be too aggressive when it comes to gathering eggs with their children.

"There were disgruntled people because there either weren't enough eggs to go around or some kids didn't get one," Van Ness said. "Parents would get aggressive."

Van Ness said it is unfortunate that parents have seemingly taken the fun out of what was meant to be a fun-filled community event, but that they had no other choice but to cancel the yearly tradition.

"Rather than create ill will, let's just not do it," he said.

Chris Greene, a father of six, said he is disappointed by the parents' actions.

"What kind of role model are you as a parent if your actions are cancelling an event your child is going to remember for the rest of your life?" Greene said.

Not only is the cancellation disappointing to some parents, but owners of businesses located near Bancroft Park are upset, too.

"We're very disappointed that the exposure that we would normally have we're not going to get this year," Molly Smith, owner of Republic of Paws, said.

Van Ness said the egg hunt event was also designed to help attract customers to businesses in Old Colorado City but that hasn't really been the case.

"It's a catch 22," Maureen Bird, an employee of Nice 'N Naughty, said. "You get the people in Old Colorado City, but you also get people who are here for a family event and they're not shopping."

Whether or not the event creates revenue for nearby businesses, those that live and work in the area said they want to see parents act their age.

"Just chill out a little bit," Jennifer Reid, a teacher in Old Colorado City, said. "Let these kids enjoy it!"

Van Ness said he is not sure if the Easter egg hunt will be back on next year.