White House Easter Egg Roll

The White House Easter Egg Roll is a children’s Easter Monday celebration centered on rolling decorated eggs across the White House South Lawn. It officially began in 1878, after Congress restricted egg rolling on the U.S. Capitol grounds because the festivities had damaged the landscape. President Rutherford B. Hayes then instructed his guards to admit children who wanted to continue the game at the White House. The White House’s history of the event notes that informal egg-rolling parties may have taken place even earlier under President Abraham Lincoln.

Over time, the gathering grew into a larger festival. President Benjamin Harrison added music from the United States Marine Band in 1889, organized egg-rolling races were introduced in 1974, and the Easter Bunny made an appearance in 1969. In 1981, First Lady Nancy Reagan began the custom of sending guests home with wooden Easter eggs signed by the President and First Lady. The event was suspended during World War I and World War II, and food conservation and White House construction prevented celebrations from 1946 to 1952; President Dwight D. Eisenhower restored the tradition in 1953. After cancellations in 2020 and 2021, the White House Easter Egg Roll returned in 2022.

How to Observe White House Easter Egg Roll

Celebrate by learning about the event’s history through the White House account, then hold a small egg-rolling race of your own. Decorate hard-boiled eggs, mark a finish line, and use spoons to gently guide the eggs across a grassy area. You can also enjoy Easter stories, music, or a springtime gathering inspired by the activities that have accompanied the White House celebration over the years.

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