First lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday the details of the 140th White House Easter Egg Roll set to take place April 2, a Monday, on the South Lawn.
“The President and First Lady are honored to continue the traditions of the past, while weaving new traditions into the fabric of our Nation’s History,” the White House stated in a press release.
An online ticket lottery for free tickets will be open to families with children 13 years old or younger starting Feb. 9 and will close at noon on Feb. 15.
The White House will also be accepting applications for volunteers until noon on Feb. 23.
The first White House Easter Egg Roll took place in 1878 during Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency and has since become “one of the oldest annual events in White House history.”
The tradition started after rolling dyed hard-boiled eggs on the west grounds of the U.S. Capitol was banned in 1876. The rule was ignored in 1877 because rain cancelled the day’s events but in 1878 egg rollers who arrived at the Capitol were kicked off the grounds by Capitol Police. The children headed to the White House afterwards where President Hayes allowed the activities to take place.
Some questioned whether the new president last year would continue the White House tradition, which attracts thousands of visitors to Pennsylvania Avenue each year.
However, President Trump chose to continue event and credited his wife with organizing the activities.
“She’s really worked hard on this. She has been working on this for a long time to make it perfect, and we wanted to keep it just right,” Trump said at the event.
