Cybercast
For the first time, the White House Easter Egg Roll will be cybercast
over the Internet, allowing children worldwide to "virtually" participate
in the annual Easter festivities. Events including the story-telling,
the egg roll, and the President's welcoming remarks will be cybercast at
www.easter.earthlink.net.
General Information
On Monday, April 13, the traditional Easter Egg Roll takes place on the
White House South Lawn from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The Egg Roll and Egg Hunt are for children
between the ages of three and six, accompanied
by at least one adult. Other family members are permitted, as long as one
person is age three to six. This is a public event, and no invitations
are issued.
Tickets
Free, timed tickets are distributed by the National Park Service on a
first-come, first-served basis. Each person, even the smallest child,
requires a ticket
to enter the South Lawn. Ticket distribution begins about 7 a.m. at
the Visitor Pavilion on the Ellipse (the park area south of the White
House), and continues until all tickets are gone. One person can request
up to four tickets (new this year). No advance tickets are available. It
should not be necessary to spend much time in line and it is not
necessary to line up before 7 a.m. Food,
chewing gum, coolers, or lawn chairs are not permitted on the South Lawn.
Theme and Activities
Dressed in period costume, actors portraying such historical figures as
Lucy Hayes, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, and George
Washington, will be strolling on the South Lawn. Woodrow the White House
Mouse and official White House Bunnies and Eggs will also be on the lawn,
enjoying the festivities. Embassies from around the world are creating
displays to demonstrate how springtime is celebrated in countries
including Australia, China, Croatia, Cypress, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia,
Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.
Traditionally, Administration officials participate in story telling with
the children during the Easter festivities. Attorney General Janet Reno
will read one of her favorites, Queen Janet From the Bunny Planet, and
Secretaries Riley, Slater, Herman, Peņa, will also read favorite books
aloud. Other Administration officials, including Surgeon General David
Satcher and Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines,
will join in reading books to children.
Celebrity story tellers include Jane Seymour, James Keach, and Amy Tan,
who will read books which they have authored. Art Garfunkel will perform
an acoustic set from his new children's album. Sam Arnold, a "mountain
man", will tell stories of his experiences raising a bear cub and pioneer
life in the 1840s west.
For the fifth year in a row, the White House Easter Egg collection will
be on display in the East Colonnade of the White House. The collection,
which features real chicken eggs decorated by artists from each of the
fifty states and the District of Columbia, was introduced by Mrs. Clinton
as a part of the White House Easter Egg Roll in 1994. Coordinated by the
American Egg Board, different artists from around the country are invited
each year to create an egg for the collection which is on display during
tours for three weeks prior to Easter through the Easter Monday
activities.
In addition to these activities, Easter 1998 at the White House features
traditional egg rolls and egg dying. This year's Easter program was
designed by artist Susan Loy of Moneta, Virginia. Ms. Loy is a
professional artist and calligrapher. Her literary calligraphy artwork
features quotations of American writers that celebrate Easter and eggs.
Directions
To accommodate the festivities on Easter Monday, E Street is closed
between 15th and 17th Streets. On-street parking is not available near
the White House and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.
The recommended Metrorail stations are Metro Center (blue, orange, and
red lines), and Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines).
In case of inclement weather, all events are canceled and not rescheduled.
The Annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House is a wonderful tradition
which The President and Mrs. Clinton hope all families will enjoy.
For the most up-to-date information on this, or other public events at
the White House, please call the Visitors Office 24-hour info line at
202-456-7041.
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