May 14, 2025 - Features
by Brenna Hobbs | Collections Graduate Assistant
A family poses for a photo with bunnies at the 2025 Easter Egg Roll with Dole. Photo by Ann Dean.
On Saturday, April 19, the Dole Institute hosted its 9th annual Easter Egg Roll with Dole. Families were invited to participate in a variety of Easter and civic-themed educational activities held inside and outside of the Institute. The event was free to the public and welcomed over 850 visitors, 475 of whom were children.
A young child plays “Connect Dole,” a Bob and Elizabeth Dole-themed version of Connect Four, on the Dole Institute’s West Lawn. Photo by Ann Dean.
The egg roll, a White House tradition since the late 1800s, was the signature feature of the event. Other outdoor games available included Connect Four, corn hole, “Dole Hole”–a miniature golf set modeled after the Dole Institute building–and many more.
One of the main events, the Easter egg hunt, was held on the lawn several times throughout the day. After finding the eggs, participants received a commemorative golden egg, along with a green canvas bag containing a Dole Institute pencil, a future voter sticker and candy from the egg hunt. The egg hunt continued inside where 50 Easter eggs were hidden in the museum display cases.
Two children run down the Dole Institute’s East Lawn in search for Easter Eggs during one of the day’s many egg hunts. Photo by Jackson DeAndrea.
Live bunnies, courtesy of Bergene Rabbitry, were a crowd favorite. Children were invited to hold and pet the bunnies, as well as have their picture taken with them in a spring-themed photo area.
Inside the Dole Institute, children were also encouraged to participate in storytime with Lawrence Public Library and engage in creating a spring themed craft with library volunteers. Additionally, Dottie, the mobile library truck, was parked in the lot so that families could check books out for Easter weekend.
Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove performed live music with the help of children in attendance in Hansen Hall throughout the day. Photo by Ann Dean.
In partnership with the Lied Center of Kansas, the Dole Institute also welcomed Jim Cosgrove, known professionally as “Mr. Stinky Feet,” to the indoor stage. He amassed quite the crowd!
Attendees were encouraged to show their artistic skills by helping color the Dole Institute’s sidewalk with chalk. Photo by Ann Dean.
Members of the community are invited to join us next year for the Easter Egg Roll with Dole on April 4, 2026. “Hop(e)” to see you there!
About the Dole Institute
Inspired by the leadership legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service, and civic education and engagement.
The Dole Institute is committed to universal accessibility in all programs and resources. We are in the process of making all of our web projects fully accessible. An accessible version of the material represented on this site will be made available upon request. Please contact us at doleinstitute@ku.edu to request the material be made available in an accessible format, or for general assistance.