The Hunt is on Check out some local Easter egg hunts

By J.K. Perry

There’s gold in them hills.Well, not really, just eggs filled with kiddie prizes in time for the Easter holiday.

Avon holds the largest egg hunt in the valley, with 10,000 plastic eggs filled with candy and prizes. It takes place at Nottingham Park on March 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. “The kids make a mad dash, by age group, to pick them all up,” said Danita Chirichillo, events coordinator for the town.

There’s also a petting zoo, flower planting, tie dye station and coloring contest.Avon’s Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored in part by The Parents Handbook to the Vail Valley.

The Vail Recreation District puts on a smaller hunt the same day at 10 am. The staff scatters or hides just under 2,000 eggs that kids, in four separated age groups, can search for. Candy is purposefully left out of the eggs. “We’re not so much about candy,” said Chad Young, supervisor of youth services for the recreational district. “We think it’s more fun to celebrate Easter with a bunch of toys rather than sweets.”

Then there’s two special eggs for each age group that contain a redemption for a stuffed animal. And another animal — the Easter bunny — will be on hand starting at 9:30 a.m.