White House Embraces Halloween
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
What kind of spooky Halloween trick-or-treating took place at the White House this year? Traditionally, the Presidents, over the years, have always decided to put aside all their political thoughts for an evening and bring on the fun and frolicking in the name of kids. Having two growing girls themselves, President Obama and First Lady Michelle, like to be imaginative and creative and share their festivities with those that make the most of this particular holiday, the kids.
This year, schoolchildren and children of military families were invited to fill their bags to the brim with plenty of goodies as they trick-or-treated at the South Portico of the White House. The decorations were in abundance. Your gaze was surely able to focus on the over 200 carved pumpkins. We even had to rub our eyes to make sure what we were seeing was not a dream. There on the White House lawn was an enormous clear bubble and none other than Glinda, the good witch, was inside with her wand moving.
Image: JACQUELYN MARTIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Many delicious treats filled up the bags of children dressed as princesses, pirates, our favorite movie characters and unusual yet unique costumes. Some of the goodies included a box of Hershey kisses, a bag of black licorice and orange tangerine jelly beans, a White House sweet dough butter cookie, a gala apple, kettle corn, Bo & Sunny baseball cards and a large assortment of candy. Kids came from schools in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C..
Image: JACQUELYN MARTIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Over 4500 trick-or-treaters and parents were expected to show up for the festivities.
Topiaries of the First Dogs “Bo” and “Sunny” were dressed up in costume as circus clowns for the holiday. In addition, several acrobatic performers could be seen on aerial trusses dressed as spiders and black cats. Haunted Halloween music played and costumed greeters (actors and volunteers) made the mood feel even more like Halloween.
One of the most favorite Halloween sweet treat recipes of the President and First Lady is their White House Halloween Cookie Recipe. It is very simple and extremely tasty.
The White House Sweet Dough Butter Cookie Recipe
1 lb Sugar 1 tsp Vanilla
2 lbs Butter 1 tsp Salt 3 Eggs 3 lbs All Purpose Flour
Mix the butter and sugar till soft and well beaten. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt and half the flour. Beat on slow speed till mixed, then add the rest of the flour and mix until incorporated.
Push flat onto a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight. Roll out to one quarter inch thick and cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutter.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 minutes and allow to cool.
The next event set to take place at the White House will be “A Salute To the Troops: In Performance At The White House.” The day, November 6, 2014, will bring with it a student workshop honoring all the brave men and women who have served our country in the past and continue to serve in the present.
In addition to the concert at the White House, there will be a live-viewing by active duty members of the military from the USO Warrior and Family Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Footage of their participation will be included in the concert event and the broadcast. The program will also be broadcast on November 11, Veterans Day, via the American Forces Network to American service men and women and civilians at U.S. Department of Defense locations around the world.
“The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military.” Robert Santelli, Executive Director of The GRAMMY Museum® in Los Angeles, will give participating students an overview of the origins of music’s place in military life and explore the impact of music in times of war. Featured performers from the evening event will share their experiences as well as answer student questions about the music and entertainment world.
The workshop, “The Stars and Stripes Forever: A History of Music and the Military,” will stream live on WhiteHouse.gov/live.
“A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” will be the thirteenth “In Performance at the White House” program during President Barack Obama’s administration. From February 2009 to the most recent broadcast in April 2014, these latest “In Performance at the White House” events have honored the musical genius of Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Hal David and Carole King; celebrated Hispanic musical heritage during Hispanic Heritage Month; marked Black History Month with events featuring the music of Motown, Memphis Soul, Women of Soul, the Blues, and from the Civil Rights Movement; explored the rich roots of Country music; and spotlighted Broadway and the unique spirit of the American musical. Video from past performances are available at www.whitehouse.gov/performances. This year, the performances will surpass previous years.
The event will feature performances by Mary J. Blige, Common, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Romeo Santos, as well as active duty military members Army SGT. Christiana R. Ball, Marine Corps Capt. Matt Smith and Capt. John Ed Auer, with Don Was as music director. The rock band Daughtry will also perform via satellite from a USO concert at Yokota Air Base in Japan. The President’s remarks will be pooled press and the entire event will be streamed live at WhiteHouse.gov/live starting at 7:25 PM ET. “A Salute to the Troops: In Performance at the White House” will be broadcast Friday, November 7 at 9:00 PM ET on PBS stations nationwide (check local listings), as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.
Embrace the joyous spirit as we count down the last few months of the year. Celebrate in the most festive of moods.
Courtesy of White House Press Office
