On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump will open the South Lawn of the White House to trick-or-treaters of all ages.
Thousands of children and their parents are expected to attend the event that will include trick-or-treating on the South Lawn and decorations such as the harvest moon on the South Portico of the White House.
The event will take place from 3:30 to 7 p.m. local time and is open to ticketholders, including military families, law enforcement families, foster and adoptive families, and administration officials with children.
The president and first lady will hand out commemorative candies on the South Drive for a portion of the event to the music of the United States Air Force Strolling Strings playing traditional Halloween songs and modern tunes.
The event will also include the U.S. Postal Service providing toy mail trucks and a BE BEST post card station for children. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will have a giant pumpkin photo opportunity and hand out mini pumpkins from American farmers. The U.S. Department of the Treasury will hand out coloring books. The International Fresh Produce Association will provide apples from Michigan, and the National Confectioners Association will provide treats.
Treats will also be given out by America 250, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Mint, U.S. Secret Service, and the Center of Science and Industry—which is providing a STEAM science-experiment kit for children.
Calendar
Oct. 27, 2026
The East Wing: First Ladies & the Power Behind the Presidency
The First Ladies Association for Research and Education on October 27, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET, presents “The East Wing: First Ladies & the Power Behind the Presidency” with journalist and author Azadeh Moaveni. The discussion will be moderated by author Heath Hardage Lee.
For generations, the White House East Wing served as more than an office for America’s first ladies and their staffs. It was a center of influence where presidential spouses shaped public policy, advanced social causes, navigated political challenges, and helped define the evolving role of the first lady.
In her new book, The East Wing: Power, Intrigue, and the Untold Story of America’s First Ladies, Azadeh Moaveni draws on original reporting and extensive interviews with former East Wing staff to reveal the personalities, partnerships, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped this uniquely American institution. Heath Hardage Lee, historian and author of The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: The Life and Times of Washington’s Most Private First Lady, will moderate this fascinating conversation about the women, relationships, and institutional power that shaped the history of the East Wing. View here
Oct. 28, 2026
In Pursuit: Eleanor Roosevelt with Allida Black and Jon Meacham
What can Eleanor Roosevelt’s life and legacy teach us about leadership, citizenship, and the ongoing pursuit of a more perfect union? The Clinton Foundation presents on Wednesday, October 28 at noon, an in-person America250 conversation with Allida Black, the 2024 Lewis L. Gould Award winner, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, moderated by Michael Cooper, executive director and executive vice president of the American Society of International Law.
Drawing on Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton’s contribution to More Perfect’s “In Pursuit” essay series, which explores Roosevelt’s leadership, and Meacham’s recent book, American Struggle: Democracy, Dissent, and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union, the discussion will explore Roosevelt’s enduring influence and the democratic values that continue to shape our nation. Read more
Oct. 29, 2026
The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon
The Watergate Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. on October 29, 2026 presents a conversation with Heath Hardage Lee and Gilbert Klein on the life and times of Washington’s most private First Lady, Pat Nixon.
Heath Hardage Lee is an award-winning historian, biographer and curator who specializes in women’s history. Lee’s latest book The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: Washington’s Most Private First Lady is the first commercial biography of First Lady Pat Nixon in almost 40 years and was a finalist of the Biographer’s International’s Plutarch Award and the Library of Virginia’s People’s Choice award in Nonfiction.
Gil Klein, author of Trouble in Lafayette Square: Assassination, Protest and Murder at the White House, and Tales from the National Press Club, is a career journalist and journalism educator. Read more
Oct. 29, 2026
Adams Speaker Series: John and Abigail Adams
The Adams Presidential Center in partnership with Revolutionary Spaces presents a conversation exploring the remarkable leadership and enduring contributions of John and Abigail Adams and their relevance to America today. Renowned historians and civic education leaders Colleen Shogan, PhD, and Kurt Graham, PhD, will come together at Boston’s historic Old South Meeting House for an insightful discussion of the Adams family’s leadership, civic values, and lasting impact on our constitutional democracy. Read more
Nov. 4, 2026
Laura Bush’s Birthday at the Bush Museum
Join the George W. Bush Presidential Center on November 4, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time in celebrating former First Lady Laura Bush’s 80th birthday! Enjoy a surprise treat, photo opportunities, and special artifacts on display. Read more
Nov. 9, 2026
Reconcilable Differences
The JFK Library will present on November 9, 2026 at 7 p.m. ET, author and historian Barbara Perry, co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Project at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, to discuss her new book, Reconcilable Differences: The Unlikely Political Alliance of John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt. Perry explores the remarkable partnership between two American icons who found common bonds on civil rights, women’s rights, and the Peace Corps. USA Today Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page will moderate. Read more
Nov. 10, 2026
White House History Live: Culinary Diplomats: The Gastronomic Legacy of White House Executive Chefs (1961-2024)
The White House Historical Association presents in the next episode of White House History Live guest curator Ethan McNamara discussing his exhibit, Culinary Diplomats: The Gastronomic Legacy of White House Executive Chefs (1961-2024), which celebrates the White House Executive Chef position and kitchen commanders who elevated White House dining to luxury-hotel standards. Read more
Nov. 13, 2026
Legacy Lecture: Abigail Adams, Liberty & Legacy
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents at noon ET on November 13, 2026, the birth of America through First Lady Abigail Adams’ eyes at this virtual performance of award-winning actress Sheryl Faye’s, Liberty & Legacy. A bold new chapter in ‘Sheryl Faye Presents Historical Women,’ Liberty & Legacy is a multimedia live performance that brings the words, wit, and wisdom of Abigail Adams vividly to life. Read more
Nov. 17, 2026
First Lady, Author and Mother: An Introduction to Julia Dent Grant
Julia Dent Grant was known to many people in the 19th century as the wife of General and President Ulysses S. Grant, but she was significant in her own right. She traveled more than 10,000 miles during the Civil War visiting her husband on the battlefield while also caring for their four children. As first lady, Julia was a popular figure in Washington D.C., known for her interest in world affairs. Towards the end of her life she wrote an autobiography, becoming the first, first lady to write a published memoir about her life. In this program with Historian and Curator Nick Sacco, learn about one of the most important first ladies in our country’s history as part of the celebration of the 200th anniversary of her birth in 1826. This program is being offered as an online webinar. Read more
Nov. 19, 2026
Third Thursday: Leadership & Legacy
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents from 6 to 8 p.m. on November, 19, 2026, the story behind one of its most iconic artifacts—First Lady Betty Ford’s exclusive Frankie Welch scarf.
Custom-made by celebrated American designer Frankie Welch, the scarf reflects a decades-long friendship through thoughtful details, including Betty Ford’s favorite flowers, colors, and even her signature. Attendees will discover what this unique piece reveals about Betty Ford’s life before the White House and how she navigated diplomacy, public service, and the ever-evolving role of first lady in this in-person event. Read more
Nov. 25, 2026
First Ladies on the Page Book Club: White House Memories 1970-2007
The National First Ladies Library & Museum presents from 7 to 8 p.m. ET on November 25, 2026 First Ladies on the Page Book Club exploring 37 years of presidential history with White House Memories 1970-2007: Recollections of the Longest Serving Chief Usher by Gary J. Walters. This richly illustrated memoir allows readers to glimpse into the lives of seven of America’s first families through behind-the-scenes moments Walters’ witnessed during his career. The discussion will explore life inside the executive mansion during the eras of First Ladies Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush through a staff-led discussion. Read more
Send calendar items, press releases and announcements to jtaylor@eastwingmagazine.com.