The 2012 White House Easter Egg Roll
Reed Preston Lindsey, a nine-year-old attending Anderson Elementary in Booneville, Mississippi, was the co-winner of the contest. His artwork was chosen as the 2012 Official Easter Egg Roll Poster. Reed won first place in the Mississippi Public Broadcasting writing contest two years in a row for writing and illustrating Roscoe Wants a Red Feather and Troy’s Next Stop........Mars! respectively.
Today, the First Family is hosting the 134th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Throughout the day, more than 30,000 people will gather on the South Lawn for games, snacks, music and, of course, the Egg Roll.
The tradition of the Easter Egg Roll dates back to 1878, when President Rutherford B. Hayes welcomed children to the White House to roll hard-boiled eggs down the sloping hills of the South Lawn. This year, some 14,500 dyed and hard-boiled eggs will be used for the game.
This year’s theme is “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move!” and focuses on promoting health and wellness and encouraging children to lead healthy and active lives. Activities at today's event include:
- Musical performances on the Rock n' Egg Roll Stage from artists Janelle Monae, Cody Simpson, Rachel Crow, Sesame Street, Zendaya, China Ann McClain and the McClain Sisters
- Reading on the Storytime Stage with Robin Roberts, Julianne Moore, Jeff Kinney from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Etan Thomas, Forest Whitaker and Bella Thorne
- An Eggtivity Zone featuring an obstacle course, players and coaches from professional sports teams teaching kids fun ways to stay active and fit
- Healthy eating and food demonstrations at the Play with your Food station with Chefs Andrew Zimmern, Richard Blais, Marcus Samuelsson, Paul Qui, Carla Hall, Pat and Gina Neel,; Bryan Voltaggio and the White House
Download the program and activity book for this year’s event, and catch all the fun as it happens on www.whitehouse.gov/live. Also visit the 2012 Easter Egg Roll page for more photo galleries and videos from years past.
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All dressed up for the Easter Egg Roll in 1898. President Rutherford B. Hayes started the tradition in 1878
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A view of the White House South Lawn during the Easter Egg Roll of 1901.
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Crowds fill the South grounds for the 1903 Easter Egg Roll.
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Children dance around the maypole at an Easter Egg Roll in the 1920s. The event was cancelled from 1917-1920, during WW1
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Annie E. McMichael Gamble and Carrie A. McMichael Davis at the Easter Egg Roll in 1920.
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Children share a drink at the Easter Egg Roll in 1922.
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Warren Sonnemann holds the prize basket during the 1923 event.
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Families gather on the South grounds for 1923 Easter Egg Roll.
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A young girl feeds candy to a stuffed rabbit in 1929.
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First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt joins the festivities in 1939. The Egg Roll was cancelled in 1943-45 during WW 2 for rationing.
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President Eisenhower brought back the tradition in 1953 following extensive renovations to the White House; in 1956, 6,000 people attended.
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Energetic children play during the 1963 Easter Egg Roll.
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Children pushing their eggs down the South Lawn during the 1966 Easter Egg Roll.
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Some young girls are all dressed up for the Easter Egg Roll in 1967.
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Guests enjoy the beautiful weather at the 1982 Easter Egg Roll. The Reagans introduced the now-signature wooden eggs the year before
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Bundled up children roll their eggs enjoy the festivities in 1994.
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In 2002, a child rolls an Easter egg down the White House South Lawn.
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