Have You Done This?

My dear friend reminded me last week of an Easter event we participated in when our children were preschool – school age.

I’m wondering how many of you have taken part in or even know about it …

THE WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL?

It’s a thing!

Children are invited onto the lawn of the White House and join in fun and games. The primary event being rolling Easter eggs in a race. Kid-friendly activities, characters, and sometimes other celebrities cover the lawn. Each President and his wife typically make unique appearances according to their style and liking.

The current president and his wife sign a wooden egg and give one to each child in attendance to take home.

Way back when, families (meaning us) had to get in line and they let a certain number of people in every hour or two. We all woke up before the sun and headed to downtown D.C. to join the line. I can’t say the early alarm or waiting was fun, but we tried to make it an event inside and outside the White House lawn. We took a ball, frisbee and snacks/lunch to accompany the waiting for fidgety young ones.

Today, you file for a lottery drawing which usually closes in February. You would want to jump on it after the New Year if you’d like to attend. Background checks, etc., are now taken far more seriously than when our kids were young. The lottery tickets give a time of entrance to the lawn. The waiting in line has ended and allows for security issues to be addressed before the event.

Here are this year’s instructions for reference:

Important Dates for 2024 Event…

*Lottery Opens: February 26, 2024 (12pm EST)

*Lottery Closes: March 4, 2024 (12pm EST)

*Lottery Results Announced: March 11, 2024

*Event Date: April 1, 2024

Ticket Information

*There is no charge for entering the lottery.

*Only one application is allowed per household.

*Requires at least 1 child (age 12 and under) and 1 adult to apply; a max of 2 adults can enter per application.

*Tickets are free and limited to 6 per household.

*Ensure your account contact information is correct and current as your email will be used for lottery and ticket communications.

*Results will be announced on March 11, and an email will be sent to successful lottery applicants.

I believe the event is usually on Easter Monday.

We attended when George H.W. Bush (and wife Barbara) and George W. Bush (and wife Laura) were in office. For us, it wasn’t about who was in the office as much as it just being a rare and precious memory for our children.

I visited the White House many times when I was young and since, but I’d never wandered the lawn for an event; a different perspective. The most important and revered house in America welcomes kids, plans for them, and provide loads of fun. We all enjoyed the experience and have reminisced about it in the years since.

In our case, the presidents and wives came onto the balcony and spoke to the group on the microphone. Their dogs made appearances too. Since our visit, I have noted Presidents on the lawn among the children, even reading books. Maybe this happened during the years we visited, but not while we were on the lawn. I am sure safety is always an issue.

I have lived around Washington D.C. since I was seven-years-old. Honestly, if I lived farther and had the inkling to take my children for a visit to the nation’s capital, this would be a great time to make the trip. Centered on the Easter Egg Roll would be quite a memorable trip.

Have you visited the White House Roll? When?

Or

Would you like to attend one day?

Happy Easter Memories,