STATEHOUSE NEWS

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It’s that time of the year again to grab your entire family, your friends and bring some holiday cheer to celebrate the Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. This year’s celebration will take place Tuesday, December 1, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This free family-friendly event is open to the public!

The festival marks the beginning of the holiday season on Capitol Square and throughout all of central Ohio. The indoor ceremony will take place in the Statehouse Atrium and consist of a short program, welcoming Santa and Mrs. Claus, followed by the lighting of our historically decorated holiday tree. The festivities will then continue with refreshments, arts and crafts activities, games and special performances by local choirs. There will also be a free photo station available to capture your families’ moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Refreshments are courtesy of Milo’s Catering, City Barbeque, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, SPAGIO Catering, the Berwick, L.A. Catering, Metro Cuisine Catering, Two Caterers, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council and Starbucks on Capitol Square.

Ongoing Activity Stations:
Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board: Holiday Cards
Office of the Secretary of State Activity Table: Vote for your Favorite Holiday Tradition
Office of the State Auditor Activity Table: Build Your Own Olaf
Office of the Attorney General Activity Table: Kids Zone Make your own I.D. Card
Girl Scouts of Heartland Council Activity Table: Christmas Slime
Ohio Senate: Santa Says
Columbus Clippers: Coloring
Tourism Ohio: Ohio Ornament
Boy Scouts of America
Ohio Pageant Queens: Face Painting and Make a Snowflake
Ohio Paper Folders Activity Table: Holiday Origami Station
KSU Columbus Program Activity Table: Festive Finger Painting
Columbus Board of Realtors: Play Pin the Nose on Rudolf
Salvation Army
Letter to Santa
Holiday Selfie Booth

Performances on the Museum Gallery Stage:
The Magic of Rory Rennick
BalletMet Columbus—Kristina D’Onofrio
Highway Patrol Bomb Dog demonstration
Columbus Metropolitan Library Read Along

Choir Line Up:
The Alliance of Greater Central Ohio
Columbus Chorus of Sweet Adelines
All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir
Annehurst Elementary Choir
The Willow Brook Singers and Rainbow Kids
Grove City Christian School Choir
John Glen High School Choir
Warren High School Hand Bell Choir
Signs of Christmas

Mascots:
Nutcracker - BalletMet Columbus
Salvation Army Bell Ringer
RATio
Lou Seal - Columbus Clippers
Krash- Columbus Clippers
Digger Dog

Come and join us for this magical night at the Ohio Statehouse to start off your holiday season! Convenient and affordable parking is available during the event in the Ohio Statehouse underground parking garage. Parking rates are available at http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/about/general-information/parking/rates.

Holiday press images are available at: http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/2014-12-02-holiday-festival-and-tree-lighting

To view this press release and others, visit www.ohiostatehouse.org.

The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in and visit the complex. The Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center coordinates tours of Capitol Square and provides information about the buildings, their history and Ohio's government.

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Calendar Listing:
The Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Ohio Statehouse; 1 Capitol Square; downtown Columbus
614/728-9777

Join us at the Ohio Statehouse for our family friendly Capitol Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting. This indoor event is free and open to the public with affordable parking available. Come and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, watch the magnificent lighting of our holiday tree, enjoy some refreshments, participate in festive arts and crafts activities, and listen to the sweet sounds of local choirs.