On Monday the President and First Lady, with special guest the Easter Bunny, kicked off the 136th annual White House Easter Egg Roll where about 30,000 people, including a few celebrities, packed onto the South Lawn for a day of fun.
The theme of this year’s Easter Egg Roll “Hop into Healthy, Swing into Shape,” was inspired by Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to promote healthy eating habits in children.
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”We are just thrilled that this theme is focusing on one issue that is near and dear to my heart and it is making sure that young people are active and healthy,” The First Lady said to the White House guests and event volunteers. “I want to make sure that kids know healthy eating and being active can be fun. Because what today is about is having a whole lot of fun, and I hope you will do that because we want our kids to be the healthiest and strongest they can be so that they can do well in school and live up to their God given potential.”
The theme was evident in most of the day’s events from “Eggsivity Zone Obstacle Course” to “Hope to It!” an instructional dance party. Attendees also flocked between yoga, cooking stations, face painting and storybook reading. “You all just enjoy! That’s all you have to do from this point on is have fun,” Michelle Obama said before the festivities began.
The Easter Egg Roll, which is now the biggest event the White House South Lawn holds, first began in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes invited children to roll their eggs on the South Lawn.
Abby Borovitz