Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 version of the Hunt for the Golden Egg! It was a whirlwind few days with literally HUNDREDS of people searching our parks for that elusive egg! But in the end, one group was victorious! Be sure to check out the GHPRD Facebook page for all of the photos and videos!
Thank you to our sponsors: Lil Creamer shave Ice, the Historic Hippie, Harper B., and Anonymous. We couldn’t have done it without you!
For those interested, here is a full breakdown of the clues:
Clue 1: This hunt will be hard… the egg is not hiding in a graveyard.
Meaning: The egg was not hidden in any of the four cemeteries owned and operated by GHPRD. We wanted to be respectful of those sacred spaces.
Clue 2: You have to move your feet, this hiding spot can’t be beat.
Meaning: This was your first hint that finding the egg would require some hiking.
Clue 3: No swimming since the 1920s.
Meaning: This refers to the former lake in Ritter Park- Lake Chaposcane. After a tragic drowning in the 1920s, the lake was drained shortly after.
Clue 4: But the creek sure is neat!
Meaning: Another nudge toward Ritter Park-while the lake is gone, the creek still runs through it.
Clue 5: C.L.R.
Meaning: These are the initials of Charles Lloyd Ritter, who donated the land for Ritter Park.
Clue 6: Over 100 years of egg hunts, but none this golden.
Meaning: The Park District has hosted egg hunts in Ritter Park for over a century. This clue was meant to guide you there, even if you didn’t catch the initials.
BONUS CLUE: In our office, a glass egg waits as part of the reward. The real egg, however, is concealed, hidden in a familiar way. When you see it, there will be no doubt.
Meaning: While the glass egg donated by Marrowbone Glassworks was listed as an “added bonus”, many participants were still searching for glass. “Concealed in a familiar way” referred to our holiday elf scavenger hunt, where the elf is always hidden in a weatherproof container- not left out in the open.
Clue 7: The hills are alive with the sound of music.
Meaning: This pointed to the amphitheater side of the park.
Clue 8: The first of the month, what did we used to do with you?
Meaning: This references our “Hike of the Month” events, held on the first Saturday of each month, alternating between Ritter Park and Rotary Park. The goal here was to get you out on the trails.
At this point, the egg was found- just off a hiking trail in Ritter Park near the amphitheater and Gobbler’s Knob.
Clue 9: Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.
Meaning: This indicated the rose garden side of the park. Since trails run on both sides, including behind the tennis courts and dog park, we wanted to steer you in the right direction.
Clue 10: And then take a hike! But be prepared, the egg isn’t hidden in plain sight!
Meaning: You needed to dig around a bit, it wasn’t visible at first glance.
Once again, congratulations to our winners- and thank you to everyone who participated! This event has truly meant a lot to us, and we appreciate all the great sports who joined in the fun.
Stay tuned: our commemorative event t-shirt fundraiser launches next week!
