Sweet: FAQ's about the 2008 White House Easter Egg Roll

WASHINGTON–The 2008 White House Easter Egg Roll is Monday, with the theme this year “ocean conservation.” Some 22,000 tickets will be handed out, with more than 15,000 eggs provided by the American Egg Board.

Childrens book authors Nancy Tafuri Have You Seen My Duckling? and Rosemary Wells Voyage To The Bunny Planet will be reading their books on the South Lawn. Plus, Mickey Mouse, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performers and Sesame Street characters will be on hand.

For more details, click below…

THE WHITE HOUSE

OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY

For Immediate Release March 24, 2008

2008 White House Easter Egg Roll:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How long has this event been a White House tradition?

A. President Rutherford B. Hayes officially opened the White House grounds to local children for egg rolling on Easter Monday in 1878. Successive Presidents have continued the tradition of inviting children to the South Lawn for egg rolling and other activities and entertainment. On occasion, the Easter Egg Roll has been cancelled, either due to inclement weather or in times of war (World War I and World War II).

Q. Is this event open to the public?

A. Yes. The majority of tickets to this years White House Easter Egg Roll were distributed to the public on Saturday, March 22. A smaller allotment of tickets was made available to the public on Monday, March 24, 2008.

Q. What is this years theme?

A. The 2008 White House Easter Egg Roll will focus on the importance of ocean conservation to our national heritage, economy, and security. As children explore the White House grounds, they will learn about our oceans and how to preserve them for future generations. Through education and volunteerism, all families can make a difference in keeping our oceans clean.

The President and Mrs. Bush are committed to continuing to protect our natural resources through wise stewardship and sensible management. In 2004, the President released his Ocean Action Plan to promote responsible use and preservation of our oceans and coastal resources. Of the 88 actions in the President’s 2004 Ocean Action Plan, this Administration has met or is on schedule to meet all commitments, and more than a quarter of the existing actions have activities that moved beyond the initial commitments.

The message of ocean conservation will be present throughout the White House grounds as children learn about how they can clean marine debris and keep our oceans clean and safe. Children will be able to view and touch marine life, interact with U.S. Coast Guards Officer Snook, help paint visions of the sea on a 20-foot mural with the help of renowned marine life artist Wyland, and collect literature on ocean conservation.

Q. Were any special groups invited to participate?

A. Yes. The President and Mrs. Bush extended a special invitation through USA Freedom Corps to organizations that answered the Presidents call to service, specifically within the area of ocean conservation.

Q. How many people will attend the event?

A. 22,000 tickets were distributed for the 2008 Easter Egg Roll.

Q. Who is hosting the 2008 Easter Egg Roll?

A. The President and Mrs. Bush will host the 2008 Easter Egg Roll.

Q. What kinds of activities will guests participate in?

A. Easter Egg Roll activities begin on the Ellipse with food and entertainment. On the White House South Lawn, children ages 7 or younger can take part in the egg roll. Guests can enjoy reading corners, egg coloring, art activities, face painting, stage entertainment, music, magicians, and other activities. Strolling characters interact with children as they roam the South Lawn. At the reading corners, visitors are treated to storytelling by authors of popular childrens books, athletes, actors, Cabinet members, and other senior Bush Administration officials.

Q. Who dyes the eggs? How many are dyed?

A. The American Egg Board provided more than 15,000 eggs, including:

7,500 real eggs for the Egg Roll,

3,200 dyed eggs for the Egg Hunt, and

4,500 plain hard cooked eggs for children to dye.

Q. Who designed the art for the commemorative egg?

A. Michael McWillie of Parker, Texas designed this years commemorative wooden egg and poster, as well as the artwork found on the tickets and program. Mr. McWillie is well known for his whimsical paintings of Scottish Terriers. Mr. McWillie runs an advertising and design company, McWillie Design.

Q. What will Children receive upon departure from the Easter Egg Roll?

A. Commemorative White House wooden Easter egg

Activity coloring book

White House bookmark

My American Journal

Baseball cards of the President and Mrs. Bushs pets; Barney, Miss Beazley, and India

Childrens book

Commemorative poster

Keep the Oceans Clean stickers

Candy

Q. Who are the guest readers?

A. Mrs. Laura Bush, First Lady of the United States

Miss Jenna Bush

Mrs. Barbara Bush, Former First Lady of the United States

Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor

Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce

Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health & Human Services and Mrs. Jacalyn Leavitt

Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing & Urban Development

Henry Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury and Mrs. Wendy Paulson

Mary Peters, Secretary of Transportation

Ed Schafer, Secretary of Agriculture

Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education

Stephen Johnson, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Ambassador Susan Schwab, United States Trade Representative

Josh Bolten, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff

Anita McBride, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Dana Perino, Assistant to the President and Press Secretary

Sara Armstrong, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff to the First Lady

Troy Aikman, Sportscaster and former NFL player

Christopher and Kyle Massey, Actors

Q. Which childrens book authors are reading on the South Lawn?

A. Nancy Tafuri; Have You Seen My Duckling?

Rosemary Wells; Voyage To The Bunny Planet

Q. Who are the entertainers?

A. All For Kidz

Arne Dixon and his team of world-class yo-yo professionals perform in an interactive show featuring outstanding yo-yo tricks.

Buck Howdy with BB

With fresh, fun and lively songs, Buck and BB encourage the entire family to get into the spirit of the Old West. Through their original lyrics and energetic spirit, the duo will have the audience on their feet and dancing in no time.

Fusion

Jason and Matthew Tardy and Michael Miclon mix all elements of Fusion theater including: juggling, improvisation, theater, comedy, darkness, light, music and more melded together to create a performance that leaves audiences breathless.

Imagination Movers

Through a series of songs and dances, the Imagination Movers teaches children that with imagination, anything is possible.

Jonas Brothers

A group of three brothersJoseph, Kevin, and Nicholasthe trio sings a variety of songs born from direct experiences in their personal lives. Their lyrics tell about the highs and lows of everyday life. They have released two albums, Its About Time in 2006 and The Jonas Brothers in 2007, and performed with Miley Cyrus in the Best of Both Worlds Tour with stops in fifty-four cities.

Jordan Pruitt

At 15 years old, Jordan has an album called No Ordinary Girl and a fan base of both children and adults.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse from Disney Channel

For generations, Mickey has been teaching young people that the key to happiness is having a positive outlook on life. With his boyish charm and ever-present enthusiasm, Mickey is sure to put a smile on everyones face.

Raggs Band

Raggs stars five colorful canine characters and their wisecracking pet cat, Dumpster, who hang together in their own cool clubhouse. Raggs and his friends are not average canines; theyre talented musicians and make great rock n roll music.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus

Agile, athletic and full of fun, Bello, the master of merriment delivers hilarity to The Greatest Show On Earth. Drawing from seven generations of circus family tradition, Bello Nock has emerged as one of the most popular and acclaimed performers in the world. Keeping it all together is Ringmaster Tyron McFarlan, a veteran of musical theater and a former military captain.

Sesame Street

By sharing a love of music, games and laughter, the characters of Sesame Street have been putting a smile on childrens faces for years. Elmo, a ticklish monster always on the lookout for a new adventure, Zoe, and their friend Gordon, bring out the imaginative side of any audience.

Steven Songs

Through a mixture of great songs, humorous stories and fun melodies, Steves music has been gathering families together for years.

Wyland

A marine life artist known for his monumental murals, Wyland teaches children how to paint marine life in an effort to promote awareness of clean water and healthy oceans. With galleries throughout the United States, Wyland was recently selected as an official artist to commemorate the United States Olympic Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Animal Stage

Peter Gros

As the president of Green Valley Center for Wildlife Education, Peter is dedicated to educating young people about the importance of wildlife conservation. Through such shows as Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom, he offers children the chance to get a first-hand look at wildlife and animal habitats.

Bobbi Colorado

With over 35 years of experience with dogs, Bobbi Colorado runs the The Wild Bunch, where she is always on the lookout for new dogs to star in television and films. Some of her recent work includes the movie Secondhand Lions, as well as a number of commercials.

Dan Breeding of Wild Animal Encounters

Dan Breeding brings people face to face with exotic wildlife while teaching about the benefits of the natural world. Wild Animal Encounters strives to educate young people about the importance of taking care of the environment by providing a close-up view of the animals that inhabit it.

Magic Stage

The Magic Stage features some of the best childrens magicians from around the country. Using magic and audience participation, these amazing magicians teach children important life lessons. They will be appearing on stage as well as strolling the grounds performing their mystifying feats of magic.

Featuring:

Ralph the Great

Stephen Bargatze

Jozo Bozo

Emanuel Shabum

Fairy Twinkletoes

Trixie Bond

Ken Scott

Domino the Great

Dr. Eldoonie

Michael Grandinetti

Norm Marini

Strolling Characters

Abby Cadabby / Sesame Street

Alpha Pig

Arthur

B.B. Rabbit

Bookworm

Bugs Bunny

Cabbage Patch Kids

Cera / Land Before Time

Charlie Brown

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Corduroy Bear

Cotton the Bunny

Curious George

Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat

Feathers the Duck

Ginger Snap

Hooper

Little Nutbrown Hare

Littlefoot / Land Before Time

Maestro Mouse

Maisy Mouse

Max

Maya and Miguel

Mr. McFeely the Speedy Delivery Man / Mister Rogers Neighborhood

Orange Blossom

Pat the Bunny

Patchy Panda

Peter Rabbit

Po / Kung Fu Panda

Princess Presto

Racing Presidents / Washington Nationals

Raggedy Ann

Raggedy Andy

Sanctuary Sam

Screech / Washington Nationals

Snoopy

Spot

Strawberry Shortcake

SuperWhy

Terrence the Turtle

Tweety Bird

U.S. Coast Guards Officer Snook

White House Bunnies and Eggs

Wonder Red

Woodrow the White House Mouse

WordGirl

For more information, please visit the White House website at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/easter/2008/