How to Organize an Easter Egg Hunt in Four Easy Steps

The American Easter tradition of an egg hunt dates back to the 1800s, when it became customary to incorporate children's activities into the holiday celebrations. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to imagine Easter without a group of kids running around the yard looking for brightly dyed eggs. Whether you're hosting the big Easter brunch this year, or simply having a few friends over, it's easy to plan an egg hunt in your backyard. We've got all the tips you need for decorating, hiding the eggs, and other family-friendly activities. If there aren't any children in your crew, use one of our creative ideas to plan an Easter egg hunt for adults instead. No matter who'll be hunting, don't forget to buy or make your own Easter baskets for everyone to use.

Step 1: Decorate for Easter

The first step: Get your house ready by hanging pastel balloons outside and an Easter decoration on your door to welcome your guests. You don't have to go overboard. One of our favorite Easter decorating ideas is this festive printable sign—it's cute and costs under $5 to assemble. If you plan on serving snacks, decorate a few tables with pastel-color tablecloths and streamers, and if your egg hunt is in the morning, once all the eggs have been found, gather the crowd for brunch.

Step 2: Prep Easter Eggs

You can hide plastic or real eggs, just get the supplies far enough in advance. If you're decorating and hiding real eggs (like our colorful oil-marbled eggs), get a few small prizes to hand out at the end in exchange for each egg. You'll want to boil and dye them about a week beforehand so you don't stress about them being ready (and keep in mind that they're not safe to eat).

Plastic eggs are easier to prepare ahead of time, and are generally better if you're hiding them outdoors in warm weather. Fill them with small toys, candy, or numbers that correspond to bigger prizes, such as stuffed animals, chocolate bunnies, or gift certificates (our Easter basket filler ideas can help if you need more inspiration). If you're hosting an egg hunt for toddlers, make sure the eggs are filled with items that don't contain small choking hazards. Estimate about a dozen eggs per guest, so everyone has a chance to find and collect a good amount.

Step 3: Hide the Eggs

If your Easter dinner celebration is a large family gathering, chances are you'll have a wide range of ages, so it's okay to plan separate activities for older and younger kids. If you're hosting an egg hunt for kids and a separate one for teenagers, divide the backyard into two zones based on age groups. Go easy on the smaller children by leaving eggs on low branches and in open spots. If you're hosting a hunt for toddlers, to make it even easier for them, think of hanging balloons instead of hiding eggs—but make it more difficult for the older participants. Challenge them by hiding eggs in hard-to-find spots, such as under leaves, in drain spouts, in the mailbox, or atop car tires.

Easter Egg Hunt Tip: The hunt doesn't end until the last egg is found, so count the eggs before you hide them, and keep track as each one is found.

Step 4: Play Some Easter Games

The fun doesn't have to stop when the last egg is found. We have creative Easter games and activities for all ages. Choose a few and set them up before your guests arrive. Play outdoor Easter games like bunny, bunny, hop (duck, duck, goose with a holiday spin) or a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt, or opt for indoor Easter games.