When it comes to Easter traditions, the annual Easter egg hunt is one of the most treasured. It's a fun event for kids of all ages—from toddlers to teens. The little ones get to run around hunting for goodies, and the big kids get to sneak pieces of candy away from the little ones' Easter baskets when they're not looking. (And you get to snap photos of all of them wearing those sweet pastel Easter colors while the hunt is going down.) The same old Easter egg hunt ideas can get a bit stale, though, especially as the kids get older. Rather than stick to tradition, why not try something new?
Depending on the weather where you live, there are quite a few fun new ways to work this annual event. If you're lucky enough to have a pool and sunshine, for example, you could use it as the hunting grounds this Easter. You're bound to get some hilarious photos of the kids all jumping in and swimming around to gather the eggs. There are also plenty of ideas on this list that require a bit more thinking than just running around the yard, looking for hiding places. And if it's simply too cold or rainy outside to host the hunt in the backyard, we have indoor Easter egg hunt ideas too.
Read on to check out our entire list of fun Easter egg hunt ideas, then get ready to plan your own for an Easter filled with fun.
Try a Nighttime Hunt
To up the ante for older kids who find all the eggs too quickly, try wrapping your eggs (or filling them, if they open) with glow sticks and rescheduling your hunt for after sundown. They'll have a ball running around in the dark and wearing the glow sticks afterward.
Have Them Do Tricks for Their Treats
Rather than chocolate, fill faux egg shells with fun activities your kids must complete before they can get their treat. This option is great for kids who are a little older and who finish the Easter egg hunt faster than they used to. The ideas inside can be silly, like the one pictured here, or you can make them a bit more difficult to get your kids to think.
Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.
Give Out Unique Prizes
Sure, candy is great, but opening an Easter egg to find a coupon of sorts that your kid can redeem for a day of skating or an ice cream outing is much more memorable.
Make It a Relay Race
A little competition never hurt anybody, right? Rather than let the little ones loose once the eggs are in the yard, split them into teams and have them complete the Easter egg hunt via relay race. This is especially helpful if there are a lot of children participating.
Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.
Take the Hunt to the Pool
If you're lucky enough to live in a climate that's warm enough for spring swimming, then take the Easter egg hunt to the pool. Throw your Easter eggs into the water and have the hunters jump in and fetch them. You can do them all at once or one at a time—whatever you so choose—but it'll be a fun, fresh twist on the tradition.
Create a Tablescape
Sometimes the little ones are old enough to want what's inside the Easter eggs but too young to actually hunt for them in the yard. If that's the case, try an indoor Easter egg hunt with a colorful tablescape featuring mini prizes. They'll still get some goodies, and you'll still get some cute photos.
Camouflage Eggs With Twine
There's no denying that an Easter egg hunt is much easier when the eggs are bright and colorful, so make it more of a challenge by camouflaging them with twine.
Hand Out Easter Hunt Trophies
Bring another incentive into the mix besides candy: trophies. You could even make them for everyone involved so that no one feels left out.
Have a Backup Plan
Keep the party inside! Hide eggs everywhere from the fridge to under kids' pillows, and leave clues for them to puzzle out. That way, the hunt can last long after the sun goes down.
Go Easter Egg Bowling
After the hunt, play a game of Easter egg bowling. Whoever's colored egg makes it the closest to the white egg wins! Just make sure there's a prize for the winner.
Hand Out Gift Bags
Instead of a basket, have everyone create their own personalized Easter bag using craft supplies like tissue paper, scrapbook paper, and finger paint.
Help the Kids With Clues
As your kids get older, make Easter morning more exciting by challenging them to a scavenger hunt to find their basket.
Don't Forget the Babies
The littlest guests may not be able to partake in the Easter egg hunt, but they can still play with an egg or two! Put an adorable spin on your eggs by drawing a bunny face on them in pink permanent marker.
Go Eco-Friendly
Make your Easter egg hunt more sustainable this year (and every year) by filling hollow wooden eggs instead of plastic ones. They're easy to paint any Easter colors you like.
Plant Egg "Flowers"
Best for wee egg hunters, these egg flowers are "plantable." Stick pipe cleaner stems, topped with a goodie-filled egg, into your garden and encourage little ones to uproot them.
Let Them Use Their Phone
The teens (and, honestly, the grown-ups) will definitely be excited about this high-tech twist on the classic egg hunt.
Create an Egg Hunt Checklist
There can be so much more to the search than simply collecting eggs. Ask participants to locate flowers, backyard creatures, and eggs in a specific variety of colors.
Leave an Easter Bunny Trail
Leave Easter eggs out in plain sight for younger kids and lay them out in a trail so they lead to their Easter baskets.
Put a Special Prize Inside
You don't have to put candy in the eggs. Opt for special notes instead, offering children special time with mom or dad, an extra 15 minutes before bedtime, or the last slice of pie.
Reuse Egg Crates
Before the hunt, place egg crates on the kids' table and encourage participants to bring them to the starting line. The first person to fill every egg slot wins something extra special. The last hot-cross bun, perhaps….
Meghan Shouse is House Beautiful's Assistant Editor, a role she has held since September 2023. On top of being the magazine's go-to Waco expert, Meghan also touches on quite a few other verticals in the digital space, like hot news content featuring your favorite HGTV stars, home design inspiration, and the latest interior TikTok trends. However, her favorite pieces are the ones that start conversations, such as stories about resale value and whether or not the Solo cup is chic. Before becoming a home writer, Meghan worked in the fashion industry for two years, writing for Harper's Bazaar after graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor's degree in apparel merchandising. When she's not interviewing interior designers about home trends, you can find Meghan reading a fictional thriller with her cat in her lap, planning themed parties, or strolling through flea markets searching for chunky candle holders and vintage bookends.
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