2009 Easter Egg Roll

Let's Go Play

A Message from the First Lady

Welcome to the 2009 Easter Egg Roll, a White House tradition since 1878!  This is the largest public event that we have held at the White House since we greeted guests in the Blue Room the day after the Inauguration.  We expect as many as 30,000 families from 45 states and the District of Columbia to converge on the South Lawn today.

This year’s theme is Let’s Go Play!  We want to encourage kids to lead healthy, active lives and today’s activities will include basketball on the White House court, soccer, a dance floor, yoga, and Double Dutch!  We also have a reading stage, a music stage – some special guests will perform throughout the day – and a Kids Kitchen where White House and guest chefs will teach kids how to cook easy, energizing snacks and meals.  In addition to all of these new activities, we have 13,000 hardboiled eggs ready for the traditional Easter Egg Roll and Egg Hunt!

Be sure and check back throughout the day as we will be live-streaming coverage of the events.  It is going to be a very special day and a great way to celebrate the start of the Spring season.

Michelle Obama

2009 White House Easter Egg Roll Video

Watch more videos from the 2009 Easter Egg Roll.

Souvenir White House Eggs

The 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll souvenir eggs were available for purchase online at the National Park Foundation website.  Each wooden egg was expertly crafted, painted, and included the signatures of the President and First Lady.  (Note: Souvenir White House Easter Eggs for 2009 are no longer available for purchase.)

Ticketing

Tickets are no longer available for the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll.

Information for Ticket Holders

Please read your tickets carefully.  Each ticket is valid for a specific two hour time period. Once the two hour window has passed, ticket holders will be asked to leave the grounds to facilitate the entrance of the next group. 

Please plan to arrive one hour before your scheduled time period.  All tickets have a "Doors/Arrive" time listed which is your Arrival time to the Ellipse.  To maximize your time on the White House grounds and guarantee entrance, it is important that you arrive at the "Doors/Arrive" time listed on your ticket and not earlier or later.

Ticket holders are allowed to bring strollers, diaper bags, baby formula, and baby bottles.  No food or beverages are allowed on the grounds.

The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). On-street parking is not available near the White House, and use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.

Security Information

All attendees will be required to go through a security screening process on the ellipse. The following items will be prohibited:

• Food and Beverages of any kind
• Duffel Bags/Suitcases/Backpacks
• No Smoking
• Knives of any size
• Aerosols of any kind
• Fireworks/Firecrackers
• Animals (except guide dogs)
• Real or Simulated Weapons/Ammunition
• Mace

US Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any other personal items.