Opening Today: The 2014 Easter Egg Roll Ticket Lottery
Ed. Note: This blog was originally posted on WhiteHouse.gov. To view the full post, click here.
Don't miss your chance to join the First Family for the 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. The big event is on Monday, April 21 and more than 30,000 people will join in on the fun. Guests will have a chance to participate in activities including games, stories, singing, dancing, and of course, the traditional egg roll - all on the White House South Lawn.
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Marian Robinson listen to Jessica Sanchez sing the National Anthem on the South Portico at the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll, April 1, 2013. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)
This year's theme "Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape," encourages children to lead healthy, active lives in support of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative. In addition to the fun and games, the day's activities will help educate families on smart ways to incorporate healthy eating and exercise choices into their daily routines.
Starting today, you can enter the lottery at www.recreation.gov for a chance to join in on the fun. The event is open to children ages 13 years and younger and their families. Be sure to enter the lottery before it closes on Monday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Families and schools who can't make the trip to Washington, D.C. but want to participate in the festivities can enter the annual poster contest. The First Lady will select the winning design to be used as part of the White House 2014 Easter Egg Roll program.
Johnston College/Library of Congress
The Easter Egg Roll tradition dates back to 1878 and the wooden White House Easter egg first became part of the Easter Egg Roll tradition in 1981, when President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan hosted a hunt for wooden eggs that bore the signatures of actors, actresses, famous politicians, and athletes. This year the 2014 souvenir eggs come in four bright colors and and include the stamped signatures of the President and First Lady. A commemorative purple "Bo and Sunny" egg is included only in the 2014 5-pack Collector's Egg Set. Visit Recreation.gov to learn more about the official White House keepsake eggs.
Make sure to stay tuned for additional information about the 2014 White House Easter Egg Roll by following along at #EasterEggRoll and visiting WhiteHouse.gov/EasterEggRoll.