That's how many people, not counting the Easter Bunny, from 45 states and the District of Columbia White House officials expect to show up Monday for this year's event, hosted by first lady Michelle Obama.
White House officials are calling this year's wooden souvenir Easter eggs the 'greenest' ever. They were made in the United States from Forest Stewardship Council certified hardwood. The certification means the wood comes from environmentally and socially sustainably managed forests.
There also will be 13,000 hard-boiled and dyed Easter eggs, and this year's theme is "Let's go play" -- an exhortation to America's youth to lead healthy and active lives. Participants will get to listen to live musical performances by Fergie, Ziggy Marley, Jessica Jarrell, SteveSongs and Imagination Movers.
They also will have stories read to them by Education Secretary Arne Duncan and others. There will be cooking tips from celebrity chefs Art Smith, Spike Mendelsohn and Jose Andres, and the White House chefs.
Participants can learn about organic gardening or, if they want, kids can play basketball and soccer, and learn to dance, do yoga and jump rope.
Marissa Coleman, Nikki Blue, Etan Thomas, Brianna Scurry, Abby Wambach and Swin Cash will help lead the games.
All this has evolved from the first White House Easter egg roll in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes invited local children to roll eggs on the South Lawn.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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