A public Easter egg hunt has turned bitter after parents accused organisers of confiscating chocolate from their children and making them cry.

The Geelong Easter Egg Hunt and Street Food Festival ran over the four-day Easter long weekend and was a ticketed event for local families.

At a cost of $15, children were able to partake in a chocolate egg hunt and greet the Easter bunny at Geelong Showground, on the strict condition they fill only one bag.

But the City of Greater Geelong is now in damage control after children were reportedly told by organisers they had collected too many eggs and needed to put some back.