Holiday Tree Arrives

Office of the Capitol Commission, State Building Division and Department of Roads staff worked to bring a 25 foot tall Colorado Blue Spruce tree into the Nebraska State Capitol. This week the tree will be strung with lights and decorated with ornaments representing Nebraska’s 93 counties in preparation for the festive tree lighting ceremony sponsored by Pinewood Bowl, Inc. The Sunday December 7th event will be the 67th annual Holiday Tree Lighting and Carol Sing in the second floor rotunda. Prelude music by the Lincoln East Brass Choir under the direction of Paul Kenney will begin at 1:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 56 and Scout Master Andy Bajc will present the colors at 2:00 p.m. to start the program. The ceremony will include performances by the Nebraska Academy of Vocal Arts directed by Judy Welch and the Lincoln Choral Artists under the direction of Jason Horner. Selected members of the Lincoln Southwest High School’s cast of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas will perform. Guided by Artistic Director Bob Henrichs and Music Director Denise Cotton the students will present two holiday classics. Following a welcome by Pinewood Bowl Inc. President Tom Blankenau and introductions, Governor Dave Heineman will deliver his 2014 holiday message. Then the Governor and First Lady Sally Ganem will light the Official State Holiday Tree and those assembled will conclude the program by singing traditional holiday carols. Charlie Brogan with KFOR will emcee the program which KFOR will broadcast live from 2:00-3:00 PM. The Kennard and Ferguson Houses will have their holiday open houses from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday December 7, 2014 in conjunction with the tree ceremony.
It takes pulling power to get the holiday tree through the front door of the Capitol.
Before the tree goes up the star is placed on the top of the tree.
After the final placement the tree is ready to be decorated.