Easter brings two egg hunts and the world’s best sunrise service

Even those who cherish the sight of flowers blooming and grass emerging in late April will still appreciate the way colorful eggs glow on the glistening white snow.

Yes, you’ll find far more white than green under your feet, but there is actually no better place to be than Breckenridge over Easter weekend, when the Easter Bunny makes not one but TWO rounds with his eggs in town and on the mountain and the sunrise service on Sunday is an experience for the ages. Plus, everything is free!

Egg hunts

The Easter Bunny rolls into town on Saturday, April 19 and at 4 p.m. the hunt is on. The first 200 egg hunters to arrive at Blue River Plaza get a bucket to hold their eggs, which contain candy and coupons and are hidden all over downtown. The Bunny will be on site early for photo ops.

If you miss the in-town hunt, not to worry, the Easter Bunny heads to the hills on Sunday morning, April 20 – or THE hill, to be precise, spreading a whopping 8,000 eggs on Peaks 8 and 9. That’s right, you get to ski or ride to fetch them (hint: most will be placed on green runs). For the first time, these eggs will be eco-friendly, made from plant-based, nontoxic plastic. Don’t be sad if you open the eggs and find nothing inside. Rather than leaving the wreckage of wrappers and unwanted candy all over the snow, this year you’ll take your collection of eggs to a tent at the base of Peak 8 and exchange them for a myriad of goodies – baked treats and bags of candy. If you DO happen to find something inside your egg, it is likely a coupon for an extra special prize. Keep it in a safe place and bring it to the tent.

Sunrise service

Watching the sun come up on Easter Sunday is always a glorious spectacle, but the view from Peak 9 during Breck’s Sunrise service is truly awe-inspiring. The Quicksilver lift will start turning at 6 a.m. on Sunday, April 20 and take service-goers to TenMile Station on the mountain for the free service. No lift ticket is required (obviously, skis and snowboards are not allowed). Wearing your Sunday best isn’t necessary either –“Summit County formal” rules apply … in other words, jeans and sweatshirts are perfectly fine – but be sure to dress warmly as the lift ride is chilly early in the a.m.

Ride on

While most ski areas in the country close for the season on Easter Sunday, Breck is making the most of this winter’s incredible heap of white stuff and will stay open for another week as part of their extended season. Ski and ride Peaks 6, 7 and 8 until April 27!

– Shauna Farnell