JEFFERSON CITY – Several events will take place this weekend at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City to mark the beginning of the holiday season. At 6 p.m. on Friday (Dec. 4), Gov. Jay Nixon and First Lady Georganne Nixon will welcome visitors to the Mansion grounds for the lighting of the outdoor Christmas tree. The outside tree is a Norway Spruce donated by Angelita Highfill, of Washington.
After the lighting of the outdoor tree, the Governor’s Mansion will be open to visitors for candlelight tours from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and then again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Area school choirs will provide music during the lighting ceremony and the tours.
The choir from Boonville High School will sing outside during the 6 p.m. lighting ceremony, and then inside from 6:45 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. Other choirs performing inside the Mansion on Friday include those from Blair Oaks High School (6:15 p.m. – 6:40 p.m.), Fulton High School (7:10 p.m. – 7:35 p.m.), California High School (7:40 p.m. – 8:05 p.m.), Helias Catholic High School (8:10 p.m. – 8:35 p.m.) and Jefferson City High School (8:40 p.m. – 9:05 p.m.). On Saturday, choirs performing inside the Mansion include those from Sacred Heart School in Sedalia (2 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) and Simonsen Ninth Grade in Jefferson City (2:35 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.).
In addition to the outside tree, several trees will be decorated inside the Mansion. The tree near the grand staircase is a Colorado Blue Spruce donated by John Watson, of Fulton, and will be decorated in classic gold and red. In addition, four seven-foot Eastern White Pines will be decorated in the double parlor and the library on the Mansion’s first floor. Those trees are from Pea Ridge Nursery, near Hermann. The nursery is owned by Leroy Rood.
During the tours, visitors will have the opportunity to view decorations in several rooms of the historic brick building, which has been the home of Missouri Governors since 1871. Volunteer docents will be on hand to help describe historical features throughout the Mansion. After the tours on Saturday, visitors can stay in downtown Jefferson City to enjoy the Jaycees’ annual Christmas parade.
The Missouri Governor’s Mansion is located at 100 Madison St. For the candlelight tours, visitors will enter the Mansion through the front gate on Madison Street.
