by Mark Silva
The White House Easter Egg roll is going online.
The annual egg roll on the South Lawn arrives Monday, April 13, a day-long event running from 8 am to 5 pm.
"For the first time,'' the Obama White House says, tickets will be distributed online "so that more children and families from across the United States have the opportunity to experience this event.''
Time was when tickets were distributed on the Ellipse the weekend before the event, which somewhat limited the scope of the egg-rolling crowd. Time was when same-sex couples couldn't get in the gate, too.
This year, the White House says, the Easter egg-rolling event is open to ticketing on the Internet -- which means, basically, that you had better act fast.
This year's theme: "Let's go play,'' with an emphasis on healthy lifestyles -- featuring sports, cooking classes, live music, storytelling, and of course, the egg roll. It is open to families with children 10 and under.
The Easter egg-roll e-box office opens Thursday.
Comments
Having camped out since my baby was born (he will be 4 this year) I must say I am disappointed that this administration is breaking with tradition. My sister-in-law and I brave the elements (two years ago it snowed on us) in excess of 24 hours to ensure our kids get to experience the Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Not everything in Washington is broken, Mr. President. Some traditions will be missed.
Posted by: Mom in Maryland | March 24, 2009 2:47 PM
I am sad that parents local to the DC area are criticizing the president for moving the tickets to an online system. For the first time, people who don't have the time to camp out on Easter Sunday (think of struggling, working parents, or parents in the midwest or the west coast who would take the trip for their very first Easter at the White House if they knew they could get the tickets). This is yet another example of this President's inclusionary ideas and I applaud him.
Posted by: Mom outside the DC Metro Area | March 26, 2009 10:34 AM
I agree with Mom in Maryland! I have made the trip from Michigan in past years and it's a great tradition being broken. I have meet many people from all over in line for tickets. I have been trying all day to get tickets online with no luck.It's easier to wait in line.
Posted by: Marilee Knoll | March 26, 2009 1:07 PM
Go Obama! I am happy that all americans now have an oppurtunity to participate. My wife stayed up all night to get tickets and we did. We live in Nj and could not have driven to DC twice to get tickets and then to go.
Posted by: Jody | March 26, 2009 1:52 PM
i think it would have been great to have done a select number of ticket's online, and still had the traditional in person distribution. it seems we will see a larger number of scalped tickets this year. not mention i understand that site was not even working properly today. very disappointing.
Posted by: SAM | March 27, 2009 12:40 AM
I agree with SAM and MOM of Maryland, This is a tradition that was broken by the OBAMA administration, My family always look forward to this historical event. We have a 19 yr old daughter and she was at the south lawn when she was 7, My 14 yr old son was there too when he was 6, Now I have a 7 yr old daughter who will be 8th on that day and that's her only birthday wish, Me and my husband were infront of the computer from midnight and whole day yesterday 3/26, but was unlucky to get a ticket, the server was very loaded, we can't get in... The whole family was very disappointed... We hope the ELLIPSE line will be back next year....
Posted by: theresa of maryland | March 27, 2009 9:29 AM
I think locals should think less of themselves and more of the nation as a whole rather than pin this obviously Godless act of selfishness on the 'OBAMA administration'. How dare he let the whole nation in on this tradition?!
Posted by: Bri | April 29, 2009 11:30 PM