[Graphic Version]

The 1998 White House Easter Egg Roll

Cybercast
For the first time, the White House Easter Egg Roll will be cybercast over the Internet, allowing children worldwide to "virtually" participate in the annual Easter festivities. Events including the story-telling, the egg roll, and the President's welcoming remarks will be cybercast at www.easter.earthlink.net.

General Information
On Monday, April 13, the traditional Easter Egg Roll takes place on the White House South Lawn from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The Egg Roll and Egg Hunt are for children between the ages of three and six, accompanied by at least one adult. Other family members are permitted, as long as one person is age three to six. This is a public event, and no invitations are issued.

Tickets
Free, timed tickets are distributed by the National Park Service on a first-come, first-served basis. Each person, even the smallest child, requires a ticket to enter the South Lawn. Ticket distribution begins about 7 a.m. at the Visitor Pavilion on the Ellipse (the park area south of the White House), and continues until all tickets are gone. One person can request up to four tickets (new this year). No advance tickets are available. It should not be necessary to spend much time in line and it is not necessary to line up before 7 a.m. Food, chewing gum, coolers, or lawn chairs are not permitted on the South Lawn.

Theme and Activities
Dressed in period costume, actors portraying such historical figures as Lucy Hayes, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Betsy Ross, and George Washington, will be strolling on the South Lawn. Woodrow the White House Mouse and official White House Bunnies and Eggs will also be on the lawn, enjoying the festivities. Embassies from around the world are creating displays to demonstrate how springtime is celebrated in countries including Australia, China, Croatia, Cypress, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Latvia, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

Traditionally, Administration officials participate in story telling with the children during the Easter festivities. Attorney General Janet Reno will read one of her favorites, Queen Janet From the Bunny Planet, and Secretaries Riley, Slater, Herman, Peņa, will also read favorite books aloud. Other Administration officials, including Surgeon General David Satcher and Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines, will join in reading books to children.

Celebrity story tellers include Jane Seymour, James Keach, and Amy Tan, who will read books which they have authored. Art Garfunkel will perform an acoustic set from his new children's album. Sam Arnold, a "mountain man", will tell stories of his experiences raising a bear cub and pioneer life in the 1840s west.

For the fifth year in a row, the White House Easter Egg collection will be on display in the East Colonnade of the White House. The collection, which features real chicken eggs decorated by artists from each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia, was introduced by Mrs. Clinton as a part of the White House Easter Egg Roll in 1994. Coordinated by the American Egg Board, different artists from around the country are invited each year to create an egg for the collection which is on display during tours for three weeks prior to Easter through the Easter Monday activities.

In addition to these activities, Easter 1998 at the White House features traditional egg rolls and egg dying. This year's Easter program was designed by artist Susan Loy of Moneta, Virginia. Ms. Loy is a professional artist and calligrapher. Her literary calligraphy artwork features quotations of American writers that celebrate Easter and eggs.

Directions
To accommodate the festivities on Easter Monday, E Street is closed between 15th and 17th Streets. On-street parking is not available near the White House and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged. The recommended Metrorail stations are Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines), and Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines).

In case of inclement weather, all events are canceled and not rescheduled.

The Annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House is a wonderful tradition which The President and Mrs. Clinton hope all families will enjoy. For the most up-to-date information on this, or other public events at the White House, please call the Visitors Office 24-hour info line at 202-456-7041.

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