The 144th annual White House Easter Egg Roll is set to take place, bringing children together to participate in the tradition of pushing brightly colored, hard-boiled eggs across the White House South Lawn using wooden spoons. This tradition has persisted through various challenges such as political polarization, global conflict, world wars, and pandemics. Despite some concerns about political polarization overshadowing the event, preparations are underway for the “EGGucation”-themed festivities planned by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
Approximately 40,000 visitors, including military and veteran families, are expected to attend the event, which will feature educational activities and entertainment themed around science, technology, engineering, arts, and math subjects. The first lady’s office revealed that the South Lawn and Ellipse will be transformed into a school community for children of all ages to enjoy, with various activities planned throughout the day, rain or shine. The event will also feature special guests and costumed characters, creating a festive and inclusive atmosphere for attendees.
The American Egg Board is supplying 64,000 eggs for the Easter Egg Roll, with 40,000 coming from Braswell Family Farms and an additional 24,000 from Sauder’s Eggs. The process of preparing the eggs for the event involves hand-dying them over five days in a highly coordinated process before they are transported to the White House via refrigerated truck. The American Egg Board will present a commemorative egg to the first lady, along with other egg-themed decorations throughout the White House.
The tradition of egg rolling dates back to the 1870s, starting at the US Capitol grounds before President Rutherford B. Hayes allowed children to roll their eggs on the White House South Lawn in 1878. Over the years, various first ladies, including Florence Harding and Grace Coolidge, have participated in or overseen the Egg Roll festivities. Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt managed the event during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency, and Michelle Obama used the event to promote her “Let’s Move” initiative during the Obama administration.
In recent years, the Trump administration focused on traditional Egg Roll activities, while the Obama administration featured star-studded performances and appearances. The event took a two-year hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, making this year’s Easter Egg Roll a highly anticipated and special occasion. The White House Easter Egg Roll remains one of the only times of the year when the White House South Lawn is open to the public with tickets available for attendees to enjoy the festivities.
