White House hosts a soggy, education-themed Easter egg roll

It's one of the few days of the year where the executive branch becomes a child's playground — and this year, the White House Easter Egg Roll drew kids to the South Lawn despite some intermittent rain.

The White House expected 40,000 people this year – which it said was a record for a tradition that goes back to 1878.

This year's event marks the third time President Biden and first lady Jill Biden have hosted it since it was canceled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Playing up this year's theme – "EGGucation" Roll – means the White House is featuring a reading nook, a station to learn about the solar eclipse, science projects, and, of course, a visit from the Easter Bunny.

"I'm a teacher, so I love any time we can turn the White House into a classroom," said the first lady as she welcomed the crowd Monday morning.

President Biden praised the event early Monday on NBC's Today show. "This is the people's house," Biden said. "It always makes me feel good to look out there and see average Americans just walking around, looking at what's going on. Because they own it."

The president and first lady joined children as they hunted for and rolled eggs. All told, the event's hunting, decorating and rolling – and snacking – required more than 64,000 eggs, which farmers in Pennsylvania and North Carolina donated, according to the American Egg Board. Braswell Family Farms of North Carolina boiled and dyed more than 6,000 eggs each day for eight days, and worked with the White House to curate special shades of orange, purple, pink and a "Biden blue."

"Easter reminds us of the power of hope and renewal, sacrifice and resurrection, but mainly love and grace toward one another," Biden said Monday at the event. "It's a time to