Growing up, Easter was one of my favorite holidays. I got to play outside and search for hidden eggs filled with chocolate goodies and sometimes even cash! It was the perfect holiday to spend time with my cousins and make fun memories.
But what do you do if you don’t live near family? You round up the neighborhood kids, of course!
Find the place and the hosts – Unless you have a huge backyard, it will be tricky to fit the neighborhood back there. Join forces with 2-3 houses on your street and see if each owner would be willing to collectively host. Decide how big you want the hunt to be and how many eggs each hunter can keep. Divide up purchases so that everyone spends an equally small amount.
Mark the territory – Use giant paper eggs on yard sticks to mark each participating house. Give instructions to each hunter before it begins so they know where to go.
Set up – Meet with the other hosts the night before and finish stuffing the eggs with prizes and making minor decorations. On the morning of the hunt, meet early to hide the eggs and prizes in the designated yards.
Give different prizes for different age groups – Easter egg hunts don’t have to be just for the kids. Assign two colors to each age group and fill the designated colored eggs with different prizes for teeny boppers, teens, and adults!
Include the teens – If you find yourself surrounded by adolescents who are “too old or cool” to hunt for eggs, ask them if they’d like to help throw the party. Give teenagers jobs like face painting or handing out candy to the little ones.
Have the potluck in your backyard – Invite neighbors and friends to each bring a dish so all of the work doesn’t fall to you. Target has adorable and affordable serveware that you can use and reuse every Easter in the future.
Remember to have fun! This could be the start of many neighborhood events. You’ll learn what works best for you and your neighbors and will only make the next Easter event better!
