The 2025 Easter Egg Hunt in Parfet Park
Photo by Joyce Davell
Click to enlarge
What's happening in Golden today?
Events for Sunday, Apr. 20th
- All day - CURRENT EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUMS
- All day - Golden History Tours
- All day - Church Services
- 9:30-11:30AM - Full Walking Tour @ Dinosaur Ridge
- 10AM-3PM - Brunch at the Rose
- 11AM-2PM - Easter Egg Hunt @ Golden Mill
- 11:15AM - Easter Egg Hunt @ First United Methodist Church
- 2PM - National Bohemians
- 5-9PM - Board Game Night
- 7PM - Anastasia: The Musical
For more information, click the item above or visit the Golden Today Calendar
11:15AM Easter Egg Hunt @ First United Methodist Church
Children 2 years old through 5th grade are invited to participate in an Easter Egg Hung on the lawn of First Unit4ed Methodist Church. It is for the entire community.
First United Methodist Church
1500 Ford Street (map)
11AM-2PM Easter Egg Hunt @ Golden Mill
Bring the family and join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt. There will be special eggs for the adults, too!
Location:
Golden Mill
1012 Ford Street (Map)
When:
11AM-2PM on Sunday, Apr. 20th
Live Music for Sunday, Apr. 20th
- 3-6PM Kory Montgomery @ Golden Mill
Golden Mill - More Live Music
8PM Karaoke @ Ace Hi Tavern
For more information, visit the Golden Today Calendar
Golden History: Egg Hunting in Golden
Modern views of former business locations
Click to enlarge
The first reference I could find to coloring Easter eggs in Golden was an 1883 promotion for Easter egg dyes, available at Dr. Kelly’s drugstore. Later, I saw dye advertised at Robinson’s Bookstore (1922 and 1923), Alpine Drug (1926 and 1928), Stewart’s Grocery (1934), Chuck’s Market & Grocery (1941), Foss Drug (1948, 1966, 1968, 1969), George’s Grocery (1950 and 1951), and Safeway (1958, 1959).
The Transcript had a Society column for many years, and there were occasional references to Easter egg hunts at children’s parties beginning in 1906. The names of the participating children were listed at smaller parties, and the names of the prize winners were listed at larger ones.
There was also a “Churches” feature for many years, which listed the services and special events at each church in town. I found many references over the years to Easter egg hunts at the churches–particularly Calvary Episcopal starting in 1916, and the Presbyterian church beginning in 1923.
Businesses began offering egg hunts as the 20th century progressed. Alpine Drugs (now Del’s Tonsorial Parlor) hosted a hunt in 1928. The location was a secret until the children arrived at the store. They then led the whole group over to Brooks Field (the Mines football field).
The Oasis Service Station at 24th and East Street (now Golden Auto Clinic) hosted an egg hunt in 1933, inviting children as follows: Parents may accompany their children if they wish. However, the children will be absolutely safe, as the hunt will be conducted away from highway traffic. The eggs will be hidden on the Oasis lawn, in adjoining fields and along the mountainside. Men will be stationed at different points to see that the children do not wander onto the highway. The Transcript later reported that 250 children had attended.
The first big community egg hunt was hosted by the Lions Club in 1943. They held it in two widely-spaced locations, with the younger children in Parfet Park (10th and Washington) and the older children at Pioneer Park (16th and Arapahoe). “Little Katherine Ellen Gillchriest” found the prize egg and won a subscription to the Transcript. (I wonder how little she was, and how she enjoyed her subscription.)
Notwithstanding the 1943 hunt, in 1953, the “First Annual East Egg Hunt” was advertised. The Chamber of Commerce, with assistance from the Lions Club and the Boy Scouts, hosted the hunt in Parfet Park. The Home Economics classes at Golden High School boiled and colored the eggs, and the downtown merchants purchased hundreds of candy eggs to augment the “real egg” supply. The Transcript later reported that 750-1000 children participated. They went through 45 dozen eggs and 60 pounds of candy eggs.
By the late 1960s, the Golden Optimists Club was partnering with the Golden Recreation Center (then located in the building that now holds the library). During those years, the eggs were hidden “along the banks of Clear Creek.”
By 1970, people were becoming paranoid about food prepared by unknown people, and the Transcript made a point of specifying that the eggs were not the hard-boiled variety–they were wrapped chocolate eggs.
Pleasant View also began holding egg hunts in 1970, and Heritage Square hosted them some years, beginning in 1974.
My historical research ended at that point, as the online Transcripts end in November of 1974; however, I have personal experience of the hunts beginning in the mid-1990s, when my daughter was the right age to participate. By that time, the Golden Kiwanis Club was partnering with the Chamber and had moved the event to Parfet Park.
1998 was a particularly memorable Easter egg hunt. It snowed that year, so the planners decided they couldn’t hold the event outdoors. The Golden Hotel was under construction at that time, and they allowed the event to take place in their parking garage.
This year's event took a different approach to snow management: the organizers pushed it into piles and scattered the eggs throughout the grass and in the snow piles.
Weather
Overnight: Mostly clear. Low around 31, with temperatures rising to around 33 overnight. West northwest wind around 6 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59. West northwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. West wind 7 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 16 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly Clear, 39°F
Monday: Mostly Sunny, 67°F
Monday Night: Mostly Clear, 40°F
Tuesday: Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers, 67°F
Tuesday Night: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy, 43°F
Wednesday: Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers, 69°F
Wednesday Night: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 44°F
Thursday: Partly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely, 63°F
Thursday Night: Chance Showers And Thunderstorms, 46°F
Friday: Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers, 67°F
Friday Night: Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy, 47°F
Saturday: Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers, 73°F
News About Golden - April 20, 2025
Rocky Mountain Railroad Club and Colorado Railroad Museum to Join Forces
Colorado Railroad Museum
GOLDEN, CO — April 18, 2025 – Over the next several months, the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club (RMRRC), a pioneering force in Colorado rail preservation for the past 87 years, will join forces with the Colorado Railroad Museum (CRRM), located in Golden. This significant step ensures the continuation of the Club’s legacy of rail preservation, historic excursions, and educational outreach, while transitioning its stewardship goals to the Museum for future action... Read more...
Rocky Mountain Railroad Club to merge into Colorado Railroad Museum
Trains
GOLDEN, Colo. — The Rocky Mountain Railroad Club will merge with the Colorado Railroad Museum, the two organizations have announced, allowing the efforts of the club to continue even as it disbands after 87 years... Read more...
Golden Informer
How much did it snow? Colorado snow totals for April 17-19, 2025 storm
By Robert Garrison
Denver Channel 7
DENVER — A late-season snowstorm that moved into Colorado Thursday has moved on but definitely left its mark in parts of the high country... Read more...
City of Golden Police Blotter
Crimewatch
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Laura King and Scott Wilson, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Forrest Jones, Barry & Liz Bettis, Cheryl & Tom Schweich, Marjorie Sloan, Chris and Joyce Davell, Rick Flint, Forrest Jones, Cynthia Merrill Tamny, Stephen Pero, Meg Van Ness & Steve Kalasz, Steve & Karla Schaefer, Bud Rockhill, Steve Enger, Kristie Brice & Mike Schwartz, The Golden Hotel, and Kurt & Janet Siegfried
Members:
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Brad Miller & Julie Bartos, Holly Thomas, Jim and LouAnne Dale, Ann Pattison, Thomas Hoffman, Carol Abel, Brian Quarnstrom, Sandra Curran, Bobby German and Alison McNally, Kathy Smith, Karen Smith, Carlos & Nancy Bernal, Robert Storrs, Michele Sannes, Elaine Marolla, Dixie Termin & Ron Miller, E Tom Hughes, Crystal M Culbert, Patrick A. Madison, Alice Madison & Jim Kalivas, Deb Goeldner, Christopher Ball, 6th Chair Home Services, Dot & Eric Brownson, Rosemary Coffman, Emeline Paulson, Sandy Schneider, Mark and Cathy Pattridge, Cheryl G Leidich, Jen Rutter, Frani R Bickart, Jennings and Litz, Bill Sedgeley, Nancy Hughes, Justin L Wade, Kathi Eggers, Traci Case, Donna Owen, Leslie D Lutz, Karen Oxman, Catherine Skokan, Ross Fraser & KC Gilliland, Lynne Haigh, Elizabeth Hilliard, Frank Young & Terre Deegan-Young, Kathy Hirons & Jack Markin, Jess & Anthony Monasterio, Ella Lyons & Jeanne Fritch, Heather Duncan, Lee Ann & Pete Horneck, Carol Cameron, Cheryl Williamson, San Daugherty, Jim Garner, John and Carol McEncroe, the Golden Welcome Center, the Golden Transcript, Koshare Eagle, Ken and Colleen Krantz, Traci Neuman Lacey, Jo Barber, Jamie Cookinham, Kermit Shields, Meridee Cecil, Vicki Olson, Colleen & Michael Ramey, Nancy & Pete Torpey, Jax Baker, Simon Maybury, Rose McLaughlin, Cameron Chambers, Joyce Gravina, Patrick Klein, Barb Robie, and Mary Rains
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Golden Community Garden, Lora Haimes, Mariane Erickson, J.J. Fraser, Mel Perkins, Bob Hamilton
