The Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt

What began as a small, experimental idea in 2022 has grown year by year into one of Prinsessur’s most beloved community traditions. Each Easter weekend, families gather to explore Icelandic parks with fairytale characters, share stories, play, and celebrate together. But at the heart of this project lies something deeper: a space where locals, immigrants, and refugee families mix naturally, building connections through joy, imagination, and shared tradition.

And with each passing year, we learn, refine, adjust, and improve. After four editions, we truly believe we are on the brink of mastering the art of the Easter egg hunt.

2022: The First Experiment

The very first Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt took place in 2022 in Hellisgerði, Hafnarfjörður — a beautiful park full of magical corners, moss, and hidden paths. It was just two performers then:

• Jessica as the Snow Princess

• Maxime as the Mountain Man

It was wonderfully chaotic.
It was deeply experimental.
And it was a huge success.

Two events were held over Easter weekend, with around 50 children at each one – far more than expected. We learned everything the hard way: pacing, crowd flow, hiding strategies, egg count management, and how easily chocolate melts in unexpected places.

But the overwhelming joy confirmed it: this had the potential to become a real tradition.

2023: Growth, Staff, and the First Multilingual Magic

By 2023, the event expanded significantly. This was our first year with additional performers and proper staff support.

Our friend Sofia stepped in as the Snow Queen for both events, and Kasia, our first Polish performer, appeared as Garðabrúða for the second one. With this, multilingual representation, now a cornerstone of Prinsessur, started to take shape.

Once again in Hellisgerði and again in partnership with the city of Hafnarfjörður, the event nearly doubled, with almost 100 children at each hunt.

The atmosphere was electric:

• Families filled the park.

• The weather was perfect.

• Bubbles floated through the air.

• Children decorated the pavement with chalk.

• Characters read stories, guided the hunt, and mingled with the crowd.

Prizes were plentiful, thanks to sponsors like Nói Síríus, and the park’s natural nooks made hiding eggs a delight.

The feedback was incredible: families loved the experience, and many asked whether it would return again next year. The answer, increasingly, was yes.

2024: A Community Tradition Takes Hold

By 2024, the Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt had taken on a life of its own.

Once again supported by the city of Hafnarfjörður and enriched by community backing – including a generous contribution from the Karolina Fund – the event was able to flourish. Performer wages, materials, and prizes were fully funded, allowing us to focus on quality, accessibility, and community spirit.

New community partners such as Ölgerðin andNói Síríus stepped in, offering refreshments and chocolates that kept the children energized.

The performers — the Snow Queen, Snow Princess, Mountain Man, and Garðabrúða — guided families through the park with warmth and humour, helping little explorers find eggs, navigate trails, and enjoy the magic of Hellisgerði.

2024 was marked by something profoundly special:
meaningful connections between refugee children and performers who shared their cultural backgrounds.
Our Ukrainian performer met Ukrainian refugee families who were visibly moved to be welcomed and included so warmly. Venezuelan families also attended in large numbers, adding colour and joy to the celebration.

Stories were read, chalk drawings covered the ground, bubbles sparkled in the air — simple, joyful moments from which community bonds quietly form.

As a testament to its growing significance, Vísir news even came to capture the magic.
The Easter egg hunt was now a recognized tradition.

2025: A New Location and Our Smoothest Event Yet

In 2025, the hunt moved to a brand-new location: the enchanting forest of Guðmundarlundur in Kópavogur. Supported by a grant from the city of Kópavogur, the fourth edition took the classic Prinsessur magic and adapted it perfectly to its new environment.

The event welcomed 82 enthusiastic children, using timed 30-minute waves to keep the experience organized and personal.

This year’s highlights included:

• Beautiful early-spring weather

• Guaranteed prizes for every participant

• A lively bubble station

• Complimentary snacks for all families

• Beloved characters (Snow Princess, Snow Queen, Mountain Man, Garðabrúða)

• Two friends stepping in at the last minute to portray Chinese Pirates during an emergency — a wonderful example of community stepping forward to support community

It was our smoothest, best-run event to date:
No disruptions, no missing eggs, no logistical challenges… everything clicked.

An unexpected visit from the National News Broadcaster made the day even more thrilling as families later spotted themselves on the evening news.

A Tradition Shaped by Community, Culture, and Constant Learning

The Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt has grown not just in size, but in purpose.

Each year we:

• learn from our mistakes

• refine our design

• adjust the flow

• strengthen safety

• improve signage

• enhance accessibility

• and find new ways to bring joy

We observe, we correct, and we improve every single year.

Today, we believe we’re close to mastering the art of the Easter egg hunt.

But more importantly, this tradition has become a place where Icelandic families and immigrant families come together naturally, sharing laughter, stories, languages, and simple moments of delight.

Children meet characters who speak their language.
Refugee parents feel welcomed and included.
Locals enjoy a family-friendly annual event in their own neighbourhoods.
And communities that rarely mix, do.

This is what makes the Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt more than just an activity.
It is a celebration of belonging.

Looking Forward

As this tradition continues to grow, we remain committed to:

• accessibility

• multicultural representation

• community partnerships

• and events that centre children and families

The Prinsessur Easter Egg Hunt started as a chaotic experiment.
Four years later, it has become a symbol of joyful community building across languages and backgrounds.

And we can’t wait to see where the next chapter takes us.