For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
April 12, 2004

White House 2004 Easter Egg Roll : Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long has this event been a White House tradition?

A. President Rutherford B. Hayes officially opened the White House grounds to local children for egg rolling on Easter Monday in 1878. Successive Presidents continued the tradition, and the event has been held on the South Lawn ever since. The event has been canceled or moved on occasion only due to poor weather conditions and during World War I and World War II.

Q. Is this event open to the public?

A. Tickets to this year's Annual White House Easter Egg Roll were distributed to the public on Saturday, April 10th as well as the morning of the event on April 12th. This year, Mrs. Bush has extended a special invitation through the National Childhood Cancer Foundation to childhood cancer patients and their families.

Q. How many people will attend the event?

A. Attendance at this year's Easter Egg Roll is expected to be between 15-16,000.

Q. What kinds of activities will guests participate in?

A. Easter Egg Roll activities begin on the Ellipse with food and entertainment. On the White House South Lawn, children ages 8 or younger can take part in the egg roll. Children of all ages can enjoy the reading corners, egg coloring, art activities, face painting, music and several stage shows and characters from children's educational programming. Strolling characters will greet children as they roam the South Lawn. At the reading corners, visitors will be treated to storytelling by authors, such as Laura Numeroff author of Give a Pig a Pancake, Cabinet members and other senior administration officials. In conjunction with the President's Council on Physical Fitness, Denise Austin and several members of the Washington Redskins will host the Easter Egg Roll Fitness Trail.

Q. Who dyes the eggs? How many are dyed?

A. Approximately 7,200 real eggs were decorated by the American Egg Board for the annual tradition. An additional 3,960 were boiled and will be colored by children during the Easter Egg Roll.

Q. Who designed the art for the commemorative egg?

A. Mary Bunning, wife of Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky, designed this year's commemorative wooden egg as well as the egg roll poster. Her work has been displayed in private shows on a number of occasions, and her paintings have been featured on the program covers for the First Lady's Luncheon and the Congressional Club Cookbook.

Q. What will Children receive upon departure from the Easter Egg Roll?

A. A commemorative White House wooden Easter egg An activity and coloring book A White House bookmark A children's book Easter Egg Roll poster Piece of Easter candy

Q. Who are the guest readers?

A. Secretary of Education Rod Paige Secretary of Commerce Don Evans Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham

Q. Which authors are reading on the South Lawn?

A. Barney Saltzberg; Crazy Hair Day Nancy Tafuri; Will You Be My Friend? Doug Wood; Old Turtle and the Broken Truth Martin Waddell; Can You Sleep Little Bear? Devin Scillian; Fibblestax Eric Rohmann; My Friend Rabbit Laura Numeroff; If You Give a Pig a Pancake? Robin Pulver; Mrs. Toggle's Zipper

Q. Who are the entertainers?

Circle of Friends: An American Girls Musical

The voices of girls, past and present, ring strong and true in the productions The American girls Review and Circle of Friends. Written by Broadway playwright Gretchen Cryer and composer Nancy Ford, both shows are inspired by the beloved historical characters and stories of The American Girls Collection. The American Girl Theater actresses invite the audience to use its imagination to visit the past and follow their hearts as they envision the future.

Bear in the Big Blue House

This Jim Henson Muppet is the host of the Emmy Award winning television that introduces children to a cast of characters who are continually exploring their environment. Though Bear stands seven feet tall, he is warm and cuddly like a favorite teddy bear. He is curious about everything around him and has never lost his natural sense of wonderment. Bear invites children into his home to play, learn, dance and sing. He teaches children the values of sharing and helping through warm-hearted stories.

Phil Baker

Award-winning recording artist and educator takes family audiences on an interactive musical adventure where children are the stars of the show - limbo, conga, do the swim, freeze dance. With vibrant rhythms, beautiful melodies and engaging lyrics, Phil delivers a baker's dozen's worth of unforgettable songs that nurture imagination and musical potential.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Clowns

The world-famous clowns from the Ringling Brother and Barnum & Bailey Circus bring laughter and joy to children of all ages. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey* is a quintessential American Family tradition, celebrated across the country on an annual basis. For more than 132 years, The Greatest Show On Earth* has brought quality, family entertainment to audiences, producing millions of smiles, waves of laughter and gasps of awe.

Raggs Kids Club Band

Raggs and his four colorful canine friends, Trilby, Pido, Max, and Razzles, mix original, award-winning music with popular favorites in a high-energy interactive show for children. They have performed throughout the US with recent performances at the Heart of Texas Fair, the Alabama National Fair, the New York State Fair, and California Kids Fest. Their CD and video have received the Seal of Approval from the National Parenting Center and they have been awarded the Children's Music Web Award for Best Song for Young children.

Animal Planet Presents Dr. Holly Knor and Annemarie Lucas

Dr. Holly Knor, who feels that she was born to care for animals, is a featured veterinarian on Animal Planet's hit series Emergency Vets. Whether tending to wounds to animals, diagnosing mysterious ailments, participating in dramatic rescues, or treating the most common maladies, the Emergency Vets are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to met the needs of an unending tide of pet patients at Denver's Alameda East Hospital.

A Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement, Annemarie Lucas appears on Animal Precinct, the popular Animal Planet series that allows viewers to accompany agents as they investigate the thousands of crimes that affect a large population in need of protection that is often overlooked, the five million animals that live in the America's biggest metropolis, New York City. Animal Precinct chronicles the drama, emotion, triumph, and tragedy of these investigators who all possess a passion to prevent animal cruelty. To do their jobs effectively, they must combine their investigative skills, compassion, tact, and street smarts.

Join Dr. Holly Knor and Annemarie Lucas at the Animal Planet stage to see and visit with a group of most interesting and exotic animals from all corners of the world.

Pamlico Joe

Pamlico Joe is a family favorite at schools, museums and libraries all across the country. He travels from the coast of North Carolina to bring songs with a positive message to thousands of students each year. His concerts focus on a healthy planet and teamwork. The audience is invited to sing along, "hand-dance" and laugh with the cast. Also appearing with Pamlico Joe will be the lovable characters Cleanwater Flow, Woody Pynes and The Pamlico Kid. Pamlico Joe's latest CD is titled, "Take A Kid Fishin."

Silly Socks Puppet Theater

Silly Socks puppets deliver humor, suspense, good messages, and lots of silliness through the use of expressive custom-made puppets. The Silly Socks Puppet theater has appeared across America and nearby at the National theater and Wolftrap Center. Brian Foster, the lead puppeteer for Silly Socks, has been writing and performing original puppet theater for over a decade.

PBS KIDS

The popular fun-loving purple dinosaur from PBS Kid's TV is the best friend a child could ever have who happens to be a 6-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. And speed along and zoom into action as Mr. McFeeley the Speedy Delivery Man from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood makes his deliveries.

Joe Scruggs

Starting in the 1980s, Joe used his folk music background to compose songs for his wife to play in her kindergarten classroom. Finding that teachers and students enjoyed his compositions, he recorded his first album in 1984. It has since been followed by nine albums and two videos that have won numerous awards including the Cable Ace Award and many Parent's Choice Awards. Joe travels the country, aided by Pete Markham, performing his show fondly called the Nanny Nanny Boo Boo Review.

Barbara Bailey Hutchison

This Grammy Award singer/songwriter has performed for audiences of adults and children throughout the United States and her voice is also heard on hundreds of television and radio commercials. Barbara writes much of the music she performs and has gained critical acclaim for her work. She has released eight children's albums including Cat In The Sink, a fun collection of songs for all ages, and Sleepy Time Lullabies, which won a Grammy Award for Best Album for Children.

Flumpa and Friends LIVE

Featuring Wendy Whitten - 'The Singing Scientist' With the help of Flumpa, the tree frog and science mascot, Wendy will bring the audience on an interactive musical science adventure! Everyone will be cheering on their favorite reptile or amphibian, swimming on the oceans, rockin' with the planets and hoping like frogs! This multi-award winning group has performed for over 1,850 events nationwide since 1995 including schools, zoos, aquariums, festivals and libraries.

Adventures of Zak

A highly entertaining musical production that combines a memorable score with true words of wisdom and insight for children. It has been well received by New York City inner city school children as well as children in Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Wyoming. Recent performances include those for the National Kidney Foundation for Pediatric & Youth Programs, the Darien CT Youth Commission Teen Center, the Madison Square Garden Boys and Girls Club, and the Child and Family Network Centers in Alexandria, Virginia.

USA YoYo Extravaganza

Arne Dixon and his team use great yo-yoing in action packed, fun-filled entertaining performances that also carry messages of hope and encouragement. The USA YoYo Extravaganza has been going strong for over a decade performing in all 50 states and around the globe before over one million young people.

Buck Howdy

Buck is a Virginia turkey farmer turned singer. He has been bringing his special brand of western music to children and playing his guitar for nearly twenty years in concerts and classrooms. His recently released CD, Skidaddle, has received favorable reviews from Parents Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the San Diego Tribune.

Also performing

Ballet Petite Chadakazam Ralph the Great Wayne Alan Don Ganz

Strolling Entertainers

Dr. Eldoonie Ralph the Great Brigitte Sills Robert Tobias Allen Cleveland Tim Hannig Eric Henning Richard Humston Laurence Lipman Miranda Miller Noland Montgomery James Munton Lorenzo the Great Kathryn Perkins John Carlson Mr. Tricks The Great Zucchini Mikael Manoukian

Strolling Characters

Anne of Green Gables Arthur Berenstain Bears Bookworm Nutbrown Hare from Guess How Much I Love you Leona from Between the Lions Maisy Caillou Clifford the Big Red Dog Digit from Cyberchase Ord from Dragon Tales George Shrinks Sagwa the Chinese Siamese Cat Elmo from Sesame Street Piggley Winks from Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks Zoboomafoo Angelica from Rugrats Blue from Blue's Clues Patchy Panda Cotton the Bunny Terrence the Turtle Feathers the Duck Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit JoJo and Goliath from: JoJo's Circus Bob and Larry from VeggieTales Winnie-the-Pooh Babar Beatrix Potter's Petter Rabbit From Looney Tunes: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and Tweety The Official White House Easter Rabbit and Mrs. Rabbit The Official White House Easter Eggs Woodrow the White House Mouse

Printer-Friendly Version   Email this page to a friend