First lady Melania Trump announced the details for the 148th White House Easter Egg Roll, which will take place on April 6 on the South Lawn of the White House.
Tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll can be requested through an online lottery that opens on Thursday, Feb. 26, and closes on Wednesday, March 4. The lottery is free, and winners will be notified by email no later than March 10.
“Families with children 13 years old and younger are invited to join the President, First Lady, White House staff, and their families for a day of festivities,” the press release said.
The White House tradition dates back to 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes, but firsthand accounts suggest that informal festivities for the holiday began with egg-rolling parties under President Abraham Lincoln, according to the White House website.
This year’s festivities will honor 250 years since America’s founding by incorporating “patriotic themes” throughout the event, according to the press release.
“The President and First Lady look forward to continuing this entertaining tradition and making it a truly memorable experience for all,” the release said.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower reinstated the traditional festivity in 1953 after years of it not occurring due to White House renovations, periods of war, and food conservation.
In addition to participating in the egg roll, the White House will also select volunteers through an online application. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 27.
First ladies typically plan the egg roll, with each woman designing the event to her “own tastes” and “interests,” according to the White House website.
First lady Lou Hoover had part of the South Lawn roped off for folks dancing, while first lady Pat Nixon introduced the traditional egg roll races.
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In 1981, first lady Nancy Reagan instituted the tradition of giving attendees a custom wooden Easter egg as a “keepsake” for guests who donned the signatures of the president and first lady.
More information about the commemorative egg roll will be available soon on the lottery’s website, according to the press release.