Hoppy Trails: Highlights from the 17th Annual Easter Keg Hunt in Fort Collins and Loveland

This year’s Easter Keg Hunts were nothing short of legendary. From bunny ears to tricky clues, local brews to photo-worthy moments, Northern Colorado once again showed up and showed out for a beloved spring-time tradition!

​A Tradition that Hops OnWhat began as a birthday celebration for Big Deal CEO, Christine, 17 years ago has since evolved into a can’t-miss annual event across Fort Collins and Loveland. Fittingly, this year’s Fort Collins hunt actually landed on Christine’s actual birthday - a full-circle moment that made the day even more special. The Easter Keg Hunt blends a fun downtown scavenger hunt with an elevated bar crawl, creating a unique way to connect with local businesses and the community. It’s free for the businesses to participate (not a bad way to have increased foot traffic for a day!). This year, both cities brought the energy, creativity, and spirit that make this event so fun!
 
Fort Collins Hunt Highlights - April 12
The Fort Collins leg kicked off on our favorite downtown patio at Avogadro’s Number. Teams received their first clue here and quickly darted off to their first stop. They worked to unravel creative and tricky clues throughout the afternoon. One multi-step puzzle led teams to a notorious local statue before directing them to Hydrate IV Bar - a clever twist that kept egg seekers on their toes!
 
14 enthusiastic teams zigzagged through 13 fantastic local spots, including Brother’s Bar, Burn Candle Bar, The Emporium at The Elizabeth Hotel, and more. Stops like Sugar Salt Sand and Salt Road Brewery brought vibrant energy, while The Hot Sauce Realm brought the heat - literally! Teams ran through downtown in colorful costumes, themed outfits, and full-on fun!

After hours of clue solving, photo snapping, and bar hopping, the final destination was revealed: Pour Brothers. The cheers, clinks, and storytelling that followed cemented this year’s Fort Collins hunt as one for the books!

FORT COLLINS STATS:
Photos by Dick Knapp Photography
Kick-Off Location: Avogadro’s Number
Stops:
Brother’s Bar
The Hot Sauce Realm
Burn Candle Bar
The Emporium at The Elizabeth Hotel
Paul Wood Florist
Vella Terra (in Old Town Square)
Trailhead Tavern
Hydrate IV Bar
Salt Road Brewing
Sugar Salt Sand
The Corner Slice
Ending Location: Pour Bros
Winning Team: Yellow Team

​Loveland Hunt Highlights - April 19
Loveland’s weather threw in a surprise twist with a blanket of snow the day before kick-off. But by Saturday, the clouds parted and the sun shone bright - just in time for nine excited teams to take it to the streets!
 
Starting at Backyard Tap, this year’s route wound through 14 downtown businesses, including B Sweet Cupcakes, SliceNRoll Pizza, The Flipside, and Wicked Tequila Room. From bar lounges to floral shops and interactive games at the Vella Terra stop, every location added its own flavor to the experience

The hunt wrapped up at 477 Distillery, where teams cheered each other and the craft cocktails flowed! Loveland delivered a perfectly blended mix of community and high-spirited fun, outshining the snowy start!
 
LOVELAND STATS:
Photos by Jen West Photography
Starting Location: The Backyard Tap
Stops:
Loveland Aleworks
B Sweet Cupcakes
Jack Jacks
Scripted
The Flipside
SliceNRoll
Wicked Tequila Room
Mead Kreiger
120 Bar
Vella Terra (near the Loveland Museum)
Tee Shots
Wild Posies
Ending Spot: 477 Distillery
Winning Team: Yellow

​17 Years of Hoppy Memories
The Easter Keg Hunt has officially become a Big Deal in Northern Colorado. What started as a playful birthday idea has grown into a beloved tradition that connects people, celebrates local businesses, and encourages a little friendly competition (and a lot of laughs!). With new clues, new businesses, and new memories each year, this event continues to be a favorite! (Flashback photo below from 2016)

​Thank You & See You Next Year!A huge shoutout to every team that participated, every business that hosted, and every individual who helped make this year’s Easter Keg Hunt unforgettable! Whether it was your first time or your fifteenth, we’re already counting down the days to next year’s event.
 
FAQs
WHAT IS THE EASTER KEG HUNT?
A clue-based scavenger hunt through local businesses, combining puzzles, bar hopping, and fun!
 
HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR?
Follow the Easter Keg Hunt on social media and sign up for the Big Deal Newsletter for announcements and event dates.
 
ARE COSTUMES ENCOURAGED?
Absolutely! The more festive, the better! Bunny ears, team themes, and wild outfits are all part of the fun.
 
HOW CAN BUSINESSES GET INVOLVED?
Local businesses interested in participating can reach out to get on the route. We typically send out “feelers” in January via email, direct mail, and phone calls - ANSWER THE CALL to be on next year’s route! We guarantee increased foot traffic to your location during this event, and many players come back after the event.

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BIG DEAL Company makes business personal by bringing JOY to the job in everything we do. As purveyors of fun with BIG DEAL, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! Serving Colorado & Wyoming. We travel too!

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