A huge city-wide treasure hunt is returning to the streets of Toronto this month, and it’s hiding thousands of dollars in cold, hard cash inside some very sweet surprises.
For the fifth year in a row, the Grand Order of Divine Sweets (The GOoDS) is bringing back its “Grand Hunt,” a high-stakes Easter tradition that turns Toronto into a real-life playing board.
On March 28, local explorers will have the chance to track down over $5,000 in prizes, including a $1,000 Grand Prize Smash Egg featuring a handcrafted chocolate shell with a bank-breaking center.
The quest officially kicks off at 10 a.m., when the first set of clues will be released via the bakery’s social media stories. From there, it’s a race against the clock to find one of ten mini treasure chests hidden in public, accessible outdoor locations across the city.
Inside each chest, lucky hunters will find a scroll redeemable for a cash reward ranging from $100 up to the $1,000 grand prize. This year’s hunt is also supported by local gaming studio Digital Extremes, which has added two $500 Smash Eggs to the bounty.
The event is completely free and requires no purchase to participate. For a leg up on the competition, drop by the café at 1162 Queen St. West before March 28. The staff might just let you in on a head-start clue to point you in the right direction.
Once you’ve secured a chest, hurry back to the Queen West headquarters before 7 p.m. to claim your winnings. Any prizes left unclaimed by the deadline won’t go to waste, however; they’ll be donated to charity to help the local community.
The hunt is open to all ages, though anyone under 18 will need an adult tagging along to claim the cash. You can keep an eye on their Instagram and Facebook pages on the morning of March 28 to catch the first clues as they drop.
