Want To Attend the White House Easter Egg Roll Next Year? Here's What To Know

Families convened on the White House South Lawn to celebrate Easter at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Have you ever dreamed of attending the White House Easter Egg Roll? It's a longstanding U.S. tradition—the first Easter Egg Roll took place way back in 1878! It's an event that has stood the test of time as a fun and free activity for families. 

No matter who you vote for, the White House Easter Egg Roll is a day where it feels like politics take a back seat for the moment. Instead, it's a day for parents and kids to spend fun, wholesome time together outside on the grounds of America's most famous house. Who gets to say they hung out at the White House for the day?! Not too many people! 

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the most recent celebration—which took place on Monday, April 1, 2024—and not only enjoy the event myself, but also speak to other attendees who were having a ball.

"It's a super once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it's just thrilling to be on the grounds and to get to experience this," Jason Briggs, a 2024 ticket lottery winner told Parade. 

There are typically around 50,000 applicants requesting around 200,000 tickets. The 2024 event was able to accommodate around 40,000 guests, so each year, many applicants find themselves out of luck.

"We [applied] like four times before we actually won. So finally we're here!" Briggs said. 

Some other guests are fortunate enough not to have to try their luck in the lottery system. 

"I am a guest of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden," Juan Vargas, owner of the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based coffee shop "Nowhere Coffee Co" told Parade proudly. The Bidens extended an invite to Vargas and his family when they visited his coffee shop in February. 

Like many of the families in attendance, Vargas' kids were looking forward to a bit of friendly competition. "They keep talking about how they really want to win the egg roll contest as if it's a massive competition," he laughed.

The excitement extended to some of the Biden's other guests as well. "Lil Boo Thang" singer Paul Russell couldn't believe how much his life has changed in the year since his song went viral on TikTok. "I was working two jobs. I was at a tech company, like sitting at a desk and now I'm performing at the White House—it's kind of insane," the singer shared with Parade.  

Emily Calandrelli, known on social media as "The Space Gal," also joined the day's events as a guest of the first lady to help teach the kids about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics). "To be able to bring explosive science experiments and hopefully like a little bit of science inspiration, it's just it's the best place to be," Calandrelli told Parade. 

Read on for more details about the White House's big annual Easter event—including how to enter the lottery for tickets in future years.

How do I get tickets to the White House Easter Egg Roll?

Tickets are offered on a lottery basis. You can enter the lottery for free on Recreation.Gov. The tickets usually open up in late February each year, so be on the lookout!

If you're extra lucky, you could also receive an invitation to the event from the president and first lady themselves. In that case, no need for the lottery!

Military families and public schools in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia also receive some tickets from the White House to dole out.

How much does it cost to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll?

It's free! There is no cost to attend the White House Easter Egg Roll.

How many people attend the White House Easter Egg Roll?

In 2024, an estimated 40,000 attendees trekked to the White House for the annual Easter festivities.

What kinds of events take place at the White House Easter Egg Roll?

Aside from the Easter Egg Roll itself, the White House Easter event changes year after year. It's planned by the First Lady's office, so the activities can change depending on who is in charge of the event. That being said, the event does typically include a performer. In 2024, Paul Russell performed his hit song "Lil Boo Thang," along with some other favorites. 

The 2024 event also included a reading nook featuring story time from some famous children's book authors, including "The Space Gal" Emily Calandrelli and the First Lady Dr. Jill Biden herself!

The 2024 event also featured activities to highlight all of the elements of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math, as noted above). Kids could meet an astronaut, check out a science experiment, add their own artistic twist to a colorful mural and more.

And no Easter event would be complete without an Easter egg hunt. The White House event includes the opportunity for kids to search the South Lawn for colorful eggs.

How many eggs do they use at the White House Easter Egg Roll?

For the 2024 event, the White House used 30,000 hardboiled and hand-dyed eggs for the festivities. That's a lot of eggs! 

Related: 50 Egg Puns and Funny Yolks That Will Definitely Crack You Up

What happens if it rains on the day of the White House Easter Egg Roll?

Pack a raincoat! The White House Easter Egg Roll will still happen as long as the weather conditions aren't deemed dangerous.

The 2024 event featured some rather dreary, rainy weather which delayed the morning festivities by about an hour and a half. Rain continued throughout the rest of the day off and on, but the kids didn't seem to mind too much!

The last time the egg roll was canceled due to rain was in 2001.

Is the White House Easter Egg Roll suitable for kids with disabilities?

Yes! The White House prides itself on offering solutions to help differently-abled kids partake in their Easter events. They offer special light-up, large-scale "chirping eggs" for visually impaired children as well as hockey sticks in place of spoons for kids who may have difficulty bending down.

Volunteers are onsite to help kids who may need special assistance. The event also includes volunteers who are professional American Sign Language interpreters.

Are there any celebrities that attend the White House Easter Egg Roll?

Usually, yes! The event typically has at least one big performer. Fifth Harmony, Jordin Sparks, MKTO, Austin Mahone, Sesame Street, Paul Russell and more have all joined the event in the past.

There very well may be some other famous people walking the grounds at the event, so keep a look out! TODAY weatherman Al Roker typically covers the event, so he's one to keep an eye out for. Politicians and their families are also likely to join. 

Your kids' favorite "celebrities" like Spongebob Squarepants, Marshall from Paw Patrol, Care Bears, Minions and more are also regular attendees of the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Next: Why Is the White House White? 22 Crazy Facts You Never Knew About the White House