31st October 2024 – (Washington) On Wednesday, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed trick-or-treaters for the last time on the White House South Lawn, marking an endearing close to their Halloween celebrations at the executive mansion. Dressed as a giant panda, a nod to the recent arrival of pandas in Washington, Jill Biden embraced the theme with enthusiasm. The pandas, which debuted at the National Zoo this October following an announcement Jill participated in earlier this year, symbolized a warm welcome back to the capital.
The First Lady, leveraging her four decades of experience in teaching, interwove an educational twist into the evening’s festivities by dubbing the event “Hallo-Read.” This initiative aimed to foster a love of reading among the young attendees. Earlier in the day, she engaged a lively audience of costumed children with a reading of a short story about spooky pumpkins.
As the sun set, the presidential couple spent about an hour distributing treats. President Biden, clad in his usual suit and tie, handed out White House-branded Hershey’s Kisses, while his wife distributed copies of “10 Spooky Pumpkins” to the children. The event expected to draw up to 8,000 visitors, including students and military families, through the gates of the White House.
Decorations for the event featured a large orange moon and a sign proclaiming “Hallow-Read at the White House,” enhancing the festive atmosphere. Cardboard cutouts of Willow, the family cat, and stacks of books, along with giant pumpkins, adorned the south face of the White House, adding a literary twist to the traditional Halloween decor.
This year’s celebration comes after President Biden announced in July that he would not seek reelection, setting the stage for his departure from office this coming January.
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