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Christmas Trees for Governor’s Mansion to arrive on Monday

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The 40-foot Christmas tree intended to be displaces outside the Missouri Governor’s Mansion is set to arrive in one week with the annual lighting ceremony schedule for the end of November.

On Monday morning, November 26, a portion of Madison Street will be closed to allow for the arrival of the 2018 Missouri Governor’s Mansion Christmas trees — one for outside display and for inside.

The tree that will be displayed on the Mansion lawn is a 40-foot Norway spruce donated by Mike and Linda Knudson of Lebanon, Missouri. It was planted 25 years ago to mark the birth of their son and had grown too big for the space.

There will also be six trees throughout the inside of the Mansion, and all of them are coming from Pea Ridge Farm in Hermann, Missouri.

A new addition to this year’s festivities is a working wooden train wrapping around the 40-foot Norway spruce. A live nativity scene performed by Concord Baptist Church will be on site as well.

The annual lighting of the tree will take place Friday, November 30, at 6 p.m. Candlelight Tours of the mansion will immediately follow. Doors will be open until 9 p.m. and again on Saturday, December 1, from 12 p.m-3 p.m. Each day student choirs and bands throughout Missouri will provide music during the tours.

The Sparta High School band will perform outside on the front steps during the lighting ceremony (6:00 p.m.-6:20 p.m.). Other choirs performing inside the Mansion on November 30, include: School of the Osage (6:20 p.m.-6:45 p.m.), Bolivar High School (6:50 p.m.-7:15 p.m.), Rolla High School (7:20 p.m.-7:50 p.m.), and Waynesville High School (7:55 p.m-8:25 p.m.).

On Saturday, December 1, choirs performing inside the Mansion include: Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson City (12:00 p.m.-12:25 p.m.), Jefferson City High School (12:30 p.m.-12:55 p.m.), and Helias Catholic High School (1:00 p.m.-1:25 p.m.).

During the tours, visitors will be able to view the festive decorations throughout the ground floor of the People’s Mansion. Friends of the Governor’s Mansion docents will be available to answer questions about the historic house.