What happens when a stoner’s holiday collides with a children’s holiday? Snoop Bunny comes to town.
As Tommy Chong hosts the Mile High 420 Festival on Sunday, here in Denver at Civic Center Park, children will be hunting for hidden eggs that the Easter bunny has mischievously scattered in parks and churches all over the city. The last time 420 and Easter shared a day was in 2014, which happened to double as the year that Colorado legalized marijuana recreationally.
It is a wild wonder to live in a state such as Colorado, hosting its annual Mile High 420 Festival. This is now an infamous organized and legal event, but not 15 years ago, it was more of a protest to legalize marijuana. Beginning in the early 1990s, all over the country, people who desired to make a statement to the government officials would meet on April 20, at 4:20 pm in various locations, including Colorado’s state capital building, to consume marijuana. This did not come without consequences, as many people would receive infractions, and some of these gatherings would turn into riots where people would succumb to injuries and jail time.
Colorado first legalized medical marijuana in 2000, with Amendment 20, allowing people who had written medical consent to possess it. It took 12 years before Amendment 64 legalized it recreationally, and 16 years later before Mile High 420 Festival became a Denver event.
It is easy to say that 420 and Easter Sunday are two holidays Denver celebrates with large attendance. Given that 420 is a “for ages 21+” holiday, and Easter is a family holiday, highly targeted for children, this can create quite the clash. Over the years, Denver has seen high percentages of its residents planning to celebrate Easter, including thousands who make it to Red Rocks for their Sunrise Service at 5 am. Many churches hold Easter Egg Hunts after their Easter services. However, many places have chosen to give their egg hunts on Saturday this year, which many families may appreciate if they prefer to stay home, enjoy their families, watch the service online, and avoid any smelly clouds coming from the city (or neighborhoods).
Any travelers should prepare for tourists who will come to see Tommy Chong host the festival, as there will be performances from well-known artists like Cordae and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, drawing in thousands from out of town. Denver International Airport will have long lines and wait times, and it is best to always plan and give time for any inconvenience. 9News shares a list of available egg hunts on Saturday, organized by city name, here.
