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Nearly 200 people showed up Saturday at FDR Park in South Philly to hunt for hidden kegs of beer. Yep, you read that right.
Philadelphia was chosen as one of four cities to host Pabst Blue Ribbon’s inaugural Kegg Hunt. Instead of eggs, the Milwaukee-based beer company hid four canisters of beer for participants 21+ to find. In the spirit of the holiday, they were decorated with pastel polka dots and other Easter-inspired designs.
While beer-seekers in Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, and Portland were given 1 to 3 “keggs” to find, Philadelphians got to search for four.
Why do we get more? Reps for PBR had no better answer than because this is Philadelphia, and we love beer. (Plus, the brand looms large in Philly drinking lore, thanks to Bob & Barbara’s and the citywide.)
Attendees were mostly from Philly, but a few said they traveled from New Jersey, and even Brooklyn. Participants searched the 348-acre park on foot, by bike, and someone even brought their dog.
Three “keggs” were discovered within the first hour of hunting, but the final one eluded searchers until the very last moment at 4 p.m. — perhaps thanks to the dog.
The contest was free to enter. Participants had to solve a riddle posted to PBR’s social media at 8 a.m. Saturday morning in order to find the location of the hunt — the “longest-serving president” was the key clue.
If people made it to the FDR Skatepark, they found two beer reps wearing bunny ears, who gave lucky winners a $150 giftcard to fill their kegg with brew.
And what’s a Philly event without at least one semi-aggressive standoff between adults over an empty barrel covered in pink polka-dots?
Contestants were able to begin their search at 1 p.m. However, a slight time miscommunication led to confusion when one participant showed up a few hours early and laid claim on one of the keggs. Tensions bubbled when another participant arrived at the appropriate time and found the same item. Eventually the situation was resolved, and the rest of the day went off without a hitch.
It was hot, but the resolve was high. Spouses tapped out and relationships were tested, but in the end friends were made, and everyone had a beer in hand.
Thaison Nguyen and his pooch Travis finally found the final prize beneath the arches at the north end of the park, under a giant paper mache leaf nestled in with a big wire carrot and some artificial pink glitter grass. Just like at the beer store, if the beer store was Target.
“We’ve been here for an hour and a half,” said Nguyen. “Started walking, got a little frustrated and then we came up here because it seemed like a good spot — and there it was.”
Nguyen has big plans for his pastel-colored keg: “It’s going to be a decoration.”
