Niwot Easter egg hunts and activities

On Saturday, April 19, Niwot's annual pancake breakfast and Easter egg hunt will be held at Niwot High School. The entire community is invited to celebrate the season.

Bert's Pancake Breakfast, named in honor of the late Bert Steele of Niwot Market, begins at 7:30 a.m. and serves a hearty breakfast until 10:30 a.m. The price for the breakfast is $10 for adults and $5 for children five and older. Kids age four and younger are free. Proceeds go to the Niwot Community Connection,

Live music and a petting zoo are also part of the event. Children are encouraged to bring baskets to participate in the free egg hunt which begins at 10 a.m.

The event is hosted and underwritten by Pat Murphy of Compass Realty, Niwot, and also sponsored by the Niwot Community Connection. Murphy said the event began about 44 years ago when she and Don Reeb, who was the Niwot Community School director, wanted to start an Easter egg hunt for their school age children.

They initially partnered with the Niwot Community Association but when the Association stopped partnering, Murphy continued the event as a way to give back to the community and to thank so many who continue to make her "forty-ish"-year-old real estate business in Niwot a success.

The Easter egg hunt is an organized activity and features special golden eggs hidden among the others. Murphy said that it is exciting for her when she runs into a thirty-something adult who reminisces about finding a golden egg in one of her hunts as a child. She said, "The opportunity to make memories for someone is a thrill," as well as seeing a new generation coming along to participate.

Murphy is grateful for all of the volunteers who make the event possible, some of whom have been volunteering for over 20 years. Whether it's a candy sorter, egg hider or pancake flipper, Murphy said, "It takes a village."

Another Easter egg hunt and free brunch that is open to the entire community, will be held at 11:40 a.m. on April 20 at the Niwot United Methodist Church at 7405 Lookout Road in Gunbarrel after the 10:20 a.m. Easter worship service.

The Easter Bunny himself will be making a guest appearance and will be available for photos with the children and families who participate. The egg hunt is divided to be age appropriate.

After the egg hunt, the community is invited to enjoy a free brunch of baked goods and fruit provided by the church. Last year, 80 children participated in the egg hunt and 140 people helped consume the light brunch.