Kids can join in White House tradition

The famous White House Easter egg roll traces its roots to Fremont, Ohio. It was 19^th U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes, a resident of Fremont, who started the egg roll in 1878. Hayes let it be known that neighborhood children could gather on the White House lawn to play Easter games after Congress banned the youngsters from the grounds of the Capitol.

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center celebrates Hayes' role in creation of a White House tradition with its Hayes Easter Egg Roll.The annual event - sponsored by Key Bank Trustee for the Nellie F. Bash for Charities - takes place on the grounds of the President’s Spiegel Grove estate from 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 3. Children ages 3-10 are invited to compete in a variety of egg-rolling contests. Prizes are awarded in four age categories, and every child receives a balloon, a pass to the Hayes Home or Hayes Museum, and treats. Admission is three hard-boiled colored eggs for use in the egg-rolling contests. In addition, children with an artistic flair can enter the Egg-Decorating Contest by bringing along a fourth, pre-decorated egg. It is recommended that parents have cameras ready for a special appearance by the Easter Bunny.