Crack the clues, find a treasure: Bartlesville's unique glass Easter Egg hunt awaits

Andy Dossett, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

With the steady, warm glow bellowing out of his furnace, local artisan Erich Minton tirelessly crafts Easter Eggs for The Great Bartlesville Egg Hunt.

This isn't your average Easter egg hunt. For the third year in a row, Minton hides around a dozen hand-crafted glass eggs around town and posts clues that would-be treasure hunters can decipher to find the bespoke heirlooms.

Local glass blower Eric Minton holds a dozen glass eggs he plans to hide around Bartlesville for the Easter Egg hunt set for March 30.
Local glass blower Eric Minton holds a dozen glass eggs he plans to hide around Bartlesville for the Easter Egg hunt set for March 30.

"My plan is just to get the community involved and have some fun," Minton said. "Go out and find some glass eggs."

Minton offers the event free of charge and is open to anyone who wants to find an egg. He says he just got the idea one day and thought it would be fun.

"I didn't have a plan the first year and did it on a whim," Minton said. "The next year, we got more organized by making an event page, and it blew my mind — 200 people showed up.

Eric Minton slowly shapes a glass egg with jacks.
Eric Minton slowly shapes a glass egg with jacks.

Minton said last year, the first egg was found in less than 10 minutes after releasing the clues.

"I think all the eggs were found in under 45 minutes," Minton said. "No idea they would be found that fast."

He says he wants to change how the eggs are hidden and the clues revealed yearly to keep people guessing. Minton wouldn't offer any hints or spoilers about how this year would work.

Eric Minton rolls the start of his clear glass egg in colored frit to give it a unique pattern.
Eric Minton rolls the start of his clear glass egg in colored frit to give it a unique pattern.

"We want every hunt to be different and always surprising people; I think the unknown makes it more fun for everyone," Minton said.

For those looking to join the hunt, the prime source of information is the Great Bartlesville Egg Hunt's Facebook page, where updates and hints may appear.

The hunt is scheduled for March 30 at 8 a.m. at Unity Square. Anticipation is already building, with 150 participants marking their calendars so far.

Eric Minton's hot shop is lit from the glow of his furnace after making a handful of glass eggs for his hunt set for later this month.
Eric Minton's hot shop is lit from the glow of his furnace after making a handful of glass eggs for his hunt set for later this month.

Minton encourages everyone interested to arrive a bit early at Unity Square on the day of the hunt to catch the announcement on how this year's event will unfold.

Whether you're a seasoned treasure hunter or a first-time participant, this event promises a community experience filled with joy, discovery and, of course, beautiful glass eggs.

Eric Minton slowly turns the glass egg in the furnace to keep it centered on his pipe.
Eric Minton slowly turns the glass egg in the furnace to keep it centered on his pipe.
Eric Minton walks back to his bench after gathering molten glass on the end of his pipe.
Eric Minton walks back to his bench after gathering molten glass on the end of his pipe.
Eric Minton coils glass to make a spiral pattern that will be covered in clear glass.
Eric Minton coils glass to make a spiral pattern that will be covered in clear glass.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Join the Great Bartlesville Egg Hunt with artisan-crafted glass eggs

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