Max Smith, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The ticket lottery for this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll opens this week.
Anyone can enter the online ticket lottery from 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 through 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25.
The White House expects more than 35,000 people at the 135th edition of the event, which will be held on April 1.
Tickets are free, and there is no cost to enter the lottery.
Families that win tickets will find out March 1.
The White House says on top of the games, stories and egg roll, this year’s event will also include sports and cooking demonstrations tied to first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
The Easter Egg Roll is the largest public event held at the White House each year. It is designed for kids 13 and younger.
It’s an Easter Monday tradition that dates back to 1878.
The National Park Service says President Rutherford B. Hayes began the tradition, when he allowed children to use the lawn after members of Congress banned egg rolling on Capitol grounds.
For more information on the event and applications to the lottery, visit the Easter Egg Roll website.
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