White House Easter Egg Roll 2016 Lottery Open

PHOTOS of previous White House Easter Egg Rolls courtesy of The White House

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WASHINGTON, DC -- In a sure sign that spring is coming, the White House has announced the date of the 2016 Easter Egg Roll and details of the lottery to get tickets for the big event.

The lottery for the White House Easter Egg Roll is now open, until Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon ET.

Ticket Lottery Information

Entering the lottery is free of charge. Lottery results will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 25. Lottery winners will be granted tickets free of charge. Tickets are not for sale or resale. Enter the lottery now.

If you enter the lottery, be sure that the contact information on your account is correct. Your email address will be used for lottery and ticket communications. You can create an account or update your profile here.

About the Event

The White House Easter Egg Roll is a tradition that dates to 1878, according to The White House. Originally, young children in Washington, D.C., would flock to Capitol Hill every Monday after Easter for egg rolling and a day of activities. Members of Congress grew tired of the growing crowds and passed an Act of Congress which prohibited egg rolling on the Capitol grounds. The event was moved to the White House in 1878 after President Hayes was approached by young children to use his backyard to roll eggs. Nearly every Easter since, the White House has invited children to roll eggs on the White House lawn.

Today, the Easter Egg Roll has grown from a few local children rolling eggs on the White House lawn to become the largest event held at the White House, filled with live entertainment, sports, interactive cooking demonstrations, and, of course, the traditional rolling of the Easter eggs. The Easter Egg Roll promotes healthy and active living and is designed for children 13 years of age and younger.

Visit the official White House website to view photos and videos of past events and learn more about the history of the White House Easter Egg Roll.

About the Commemorative Eggs

The official White House Easter Egg Roll commemorative eggs are available whether or not you attend the event. Learn more about these popular keepsake eggs.

The 2016 White House Easter Eggs come in four custom colors — banquet blue, sunset soiree, party pink and gala green. These eggs feature the stamped signatures of the President and First Lady on the back. Buy them individually or in a set that includes one of each color. A special edition “Bo and Sunny” metallic gold egg, which has the stamped “signatures” and paw prints of the two dogs on the back, is included when you buy a commemorative set.

Design Contest 2016

The White House invites all elementary and middle school students to submit original artwork related to this year’s theme for the 2016 Easter Egg Roll Design Contest. The First Lady will select the winning designs, which will be used as part of the White House 2016 Easter Egg Roll program and souvenir poster. The theme for this year’s event is “Let’s Celebrate!” to honor the final Easter Egg Roll of the Obama Administration, and celebrate the initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 22. Read more about the contest here.