Contact: White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 202-456-2580

WASHINGTON, Apr. 4 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is released by the Office of the First Lady:

The annual White House Easter Egg Roll will be held Monday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the South Lawn of the White House.  Activities on the Ellipse begin at 7:30 a.m. with food and  entertainment.  Children age seven and under can participate in the egg roll on the South Lawn.  For all family members, there will be live entertainment from Sesame Street, Miley Cyrus who stars in the hit series Hannah Montana, and several other stage performances.  Families can also enjoy animal introductions from Peter Gros from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

Special guest readers include NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, children's book authors Michelle Knudsen and Mary Pope Osborne, author and illustrator David Wiesner, Olympic medalist Kerri Strug and actor Stephen Baldwin.  Shrek, Bugs Bunny, Charlie Brown, Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Official White House Easter Bunnies and many other strolling characters will also entertain children on the South Lawn.

The National Park Service will distribute free tickets on two dates for entry to the South Lawn.  The majority of tickets will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 7, and a small allotment of tickets will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 9.  The tickets, which are timed for entrance, will be distributed on a first-come basis at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (southwest corner of 15th and E Streets).  A maximum of five tickets will be issued per person.  Children of all ages are welcome to attend, as long as there is at least one child seven years old or under and no more than two adults per group.  Tickets are required for every attendee, including small children, to enter the White House South Lawn.  No tickets are necessary for access to the events on the Ellipse.

Baby strollers and wheelchairs will be permitted on the South Lawn; however, outside food, coolers and lawn chairs will not be allowed on the White House grounds.  In order to facilitate entry into the event, guests should limit carry-in items.  All public entry into the Egg Roll will begin on the Ellipse.  Guests will be escorted to the South Lawn per their designated ticket time.  Parking will not be available near the White House and the use of public transportation is strongly encouraged.  The closest Metro stops are Federal Triangle and Metro Center.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

For the most up-to-date information on the White House Easter Egg Roll and other public events at the White House, please call the Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041.  To learn more about the White House Easter Egg Roll, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/easter/2007/.