THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the First Lady
WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG HUNT AND ROLL SCHEDULED FOR
MONDAY MARCH 31, 1997
The White House will hold its traditional Easter Egg Roll and Hunt on Monday, March 31, 1997. The Easter activities include the Easter Egg Roll and Hunt for children ages 3 - 6 and numerous activities and entertainment. Activities will take place on the South Lawn and the Ellipse.
The theme for this year's event is 'Learning is Delightful and Delicious' and celebrates the many ways that learning can be fun and that parents can participate in their child's activities. Each of the seven activity stages incorporate this theme: The Learning Means the World to Me stage offers a series of interactive programs for young children. Including educational activities sponsored by American Greetings and Learning Horizons. Children will be able to 'Puzzle Place, Bananas in Pajamas, and Cathy & Marcy are a few of the featured acts. The Smart Kids on a Roll stage features the Broadway Kids (kids who have performed on Broadway), Trout Fishing in America, and Parachute Express. Learning Adventures CD-ROM Theater features Barney Broccoli and Bobby Banana who, with the help of computer technology, present a show based on the importance of '5 A Day' nutrition. The Spring into Learning stage offers fashion shows, the Paper Moon kids from the national company of Paper Moon, and the Story Time TV characters. The Imagine the Possibilities story telling stage is hosted by Mr. Hatbox, Elizabeth Mac Donald, and a troupe of actors and performers that includes actress Jane Seymour, star of "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman", who will be joined by her children as she reads various stories. The Off to a Good Start stage features free, nutritional breakfast from a number of food sponsors. The stage will also offer interactive arts and crafts provided by Zany Brainy. The Learn Big Things on the WWW theater, sponsored by GapKids features 30 computer terminals at which children can learn about the World Wide Web and send an e-mail to the President, First Lady, Vice President or Mrs. Gore. In addition, NASA Astronauts Mike Mullane and Richard Hieb will be at the "Space Discovery Center" designed to teach children about the wonders of space exploration; Fourteen football players including Gus Frerotte and Trent Green of The Washington Redskins and Terry Cres and Ty H. Detmer of the Philadelphia Eagles will be on hand throughout the day to sign autographs. The Great Train Store creates a fantasy Easter village and K'Nex toys displays giant models of historic U.S. monuments.
This year's souvenir program was designed by artist/teacher Herb Schwartz. Mr. Schwartz has taught art in public schools in both New York and New Jersey for over thirty years. He currently teaches grades K - 5 in New Jersey.
The 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 50 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 three weeks prior to Easter through the Easter Monday activities.
Tickets are required for the South Lawn and can be picked up at the Visitor's Pavilion on the Ellipse on Monday, March 31. Distribution of tickets will begin at 7:00 AM. The South Lawn will be open from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Tickets are not required for the Ellipse activities.
WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL AND HUNT:
DATE: Monday, March 31, 1997
TIME: 7:00 AM - TICKET DISTRIBUTION BEGINS AT VISITOR'S PAVILION
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ACTIVITIES BEGIN ON THE SOUTH LAWN
LOCATION: The White House South Lawn
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
PRESS NOTE: There will be coverage of the President's remarks at
approximately 10:00 AM. Members of the press who
are not White House press pass holders who wish to
cover the event should contact the Office of Media
Affairs at: 202-456-7150.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Every person going on to the South Lawn will need a ticket. Tickets will have a time printed on them indicating the time they should go to the South Lawn. To accommodate the festivities, E Street between 15th and 17th Streets will be closed. As parking is severely limited, people are encouraged to use public transportation. In case of inclement weather, all events are canceled and not rescheduled. For additional information, members of the public can call the White House Visitor's Office 24-hour Special Events line at: 202-456-2200.
HARD BOILED FACTS:
O There will be 25,000 wooden eggs used at this year's event.
The pastel eggs feature a silhouette of a bunny holding the
White House and the signatures of the President and the First
Lady.
O There will be 7,500 hard boiled eggs used for the Egg Roll.
The eggs are dyed by the White House chef.
O This year's celebrity readers include: Jane Seymour, Elizabeth
Campbell, Education Secretary Richard Riley, Transportation
Secretary Rodney Slater and Attorney General Janet Reno, who
will read 'Queen Janet From the Bunny Planet'.
O Adults must be accompanied by a child age 3 to 6 years to
enter the White House Lawn. All persons are required to have
a ticket.
O The original site of the Easter Egg Roll was on the grounds of
the United States Capitol. The event began during James
Madison's presidency at the suggestion of Mrs. Madison who
had learned that Egyptian children rolled colored eggs on the
site of the Pyramids.
O More than 500 volunteers from celebrities to local citizens
help to make the White House Easter Egg Roll a special event
for the families who visit.
O In 1878 President Hayes and his wife Lucy officially moved the
Easter activities to the White House grounds. The Easter Egg
Roll has taken place on the White House Lawn since 1878
except during World War I and World War II. During the War
years, the Easter Egg Roll was held at the National Zoo, and
other Washington locations.
O In order to accommodate more families attending Easter Monday
activities, the President and Mrs. Clinton expanded the
activities from the South Lawn to the Ellipse in 1993.
O President Clinton is the first President to consistently
attend the Easter Egg Roll.
O American Sign language interpreters are available on both the
South Lawn and the Ellipse activities. Signs at the gates
direct hearing impaired families to these services.
O In the event of rain the Easter Monday activities will be
canceled and not rescheduled.
O Look for more information on the White House homepage located
at www.whitehouse.com
O For additional information, members of the public should call
202-456-2200.
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