The Great Marshmallow Drop, an Easter favorite, will be held in a new location this year.

The free event, in which marshmallows rain down from a helicopter and children run to pick them up, will be held at Worden Park in Royal Oak at 10 a.m. Friday, April 18.

Catalpa Oaks County Park in Southfield usually hosts the annual event; it is under construction this year.

A helicopter will drop more than 15,000 marshmallows over a designated area of Worden Park, Lexington Boulevard and Crooks Road, according to a release from Oakland County Parks, which sponsors the event.

Children collect one marshmallow and turn it in for a prize. The event is not a competition; everyone will receive a prize.

There will be four drop zone groups. Three will begin at 10 a.m.: Ages 4 and younger, ages 5-7 and ages 8-12. A drop for those of n American Sign Language interpreter will be available. There will be a tent where sensory regulation tools, such as noise reducing headphones and fidget toys, will also be available.

Staff and volunteers will be on site to assist with parking, provide a safe boundary for kids torun in and distribute prizes.

This is a popular event, so participants are encouraged to arrive early for parking. No preregistration is required.