Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony December 9

The Nebraska State Capitol will host the 71st annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Carol Sing sponsored by Pinewood Bowl Inc. in the second floor rotunda on Sunday December 9, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.  Prelude music by the Concordia Handbell Choir under the direction of Jessica Kite will begin at 1:30 p.m. Charlie Brogan with KFOR will emcee the program which will be broadcast on KFOR Radio at 7:00 PM that evening. Pastor Tom Barber, CEO of the Lincoln People’s City Mission will offer the Invocation and Benediction. The Waverly Singers/Inspiration Middle School Show Choir, under the direction of Rachel Kornfeld, and the Lincoln Public Schools All City Girls Chorus, under the direction of Wes Hansmeyer and Hannah Lambert, will perform during the hour-long ceremony. Following a welcome and introduction by Pinewood Bowl Inc. president, Chris Goforth, Governor Pete Ricketts will deliver his 2018 Christmas Holiday message.  The program will conclude with the Governor and First Lady Susanne Shore lighting the Official State Christmas Tree with those assembled singing traditional carols. This year’s Capitol Christmas tree comes from a farm near St. Edward, Nebraska and was planted by Allen Benson and donated by his son Ron Benson. The tree will display new ornaments created by Nebraska artists as part of the continued celebration of Nebraska’s 150 Anniversary of Statehood. The tree will be up through December 27th.