STATEHOUSE NEWS

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Columbus, OH – It’s almost that time of the year! Bring your family, friends and holiday cheer to the 2022 Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting at the Ohio Statehouse. This year’s celebration will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board continues to offer this family-friend event free to the public.

Every year, the Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting kicks off the holiday season on Capitol Square. The Tree Lighting in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium consists of a short ceremony in which Governor Mike DeWine will give introductory remarks, light the historically decorated tree and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Tree Lighting will be live-streamed on OhioChannel.org.

When the ceremony ends, the Holiday Festival continues with a wide range of arts and crafts, special performances by local choirs and dancers from OhioDance and Drake Dance Academy, mascots, complimentary cookies and more. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will demonstrate its K-9 unit. A free photo station will capture your family’s moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

This year, OhioDance looks forward to offering an extensive program of performances that include ballet, tap, hip hop, salsa, dance combining Indian and western musical instruments, Irish folk and more!

Musical performers include Annehurst Elementary School, from Westerville; John Glenn High School, from New Concord; Pickerington North High School, from Pickerington; and the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. Craft and activity stations are sponsored by many local organizations and government agencies.

Join us on this magical night at the Ohio Statehouse to kick off your holiday season! Convenient and affordable parking will be available in the Ohio Statehouse Underground Parking Garage. Find rates at OhioStatehouse.org.

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Columbus, OH – The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) invites the public to celebrate holidays in December at the Ohio Statehouse. Starting at the 2022 Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting, CSRAB then welcomes all to enjoy other activities throughout the rest of the month: performances by local schools, decorations, tours and special items and sales at the Statehouse Museum Shop.

Capitol Square will kick off the holiday season at the annual Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 1. After Governor DeWine gives introductory remarks and lights the tree in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium, a wide range of activities and performances by Ohio choirs and dance companies will take place throughout the evening. Find further details about this family-friendly event on the Statehouse calendar at OhioStatehouse.org.

During the rest of December, other special performances by students from across Ohio will be open to the public. On weekdays, school choirs will perform at noon in the Museum Gallery, on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. As the legislative schedule allows, The Ohio Channel will also live-stream each concert:

Dec. 6 Lancaster High School Chamber Singers
Dec. 7 Sidney High School Symphonic Choir
Dec. 8 JG Company from John Glenn High School
Dec. 9 Northside Christian School Choir

Dec. 12 Johnstown-Monroe High School Choir
Dec. 13 North Royalton High School Choir
Dec. 14 Fort Hayes Metropolitan Singers
Dec. 15 Logan High School Chamber Singers
Dec. 16 Bexley High School Vocal Ensemble

Dec. 19 Kenton Ridge Chamber Singers
Dec. 20 Columbus Cello Choir from Columbus Cello School


Throughout the month, the Statehouse Museum Shop will feature Ohio-themed gifts and the collectible 2022 Ohio Statehouse Christmas Ornament. Visitors to the Ohio Statehouse from December 5 through December 9 may have a sweet discount during the Candy Cane Sale. Shoppers may pull a candy cane to find a discount of 15% to 40% off their total purchase. See Shop for details and exclusions.

The Ohio Statehouse also offers public tours every day except state holidays. Guided tours start in the Map Room, on the ground floor, at the top of every hour, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Out-of-town guests may enjoy a free tour of the Ohio Statehouse during their stay in Ohio.

Inside the Ohio Statehouse, decorations reminiscent of the nineteenth century highlight the historical character of the building, completed in 1861. Outside, red and green lights will illuminate Capitol Square.

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In honor of the life and service of Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick, the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office Tower on November 20, 2022, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

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Please be informed that a Civil War-era cannon will be fired from the West Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse Thursday, November 10, 2022.

As part of the City of Columbus Veterans Day Parade, historical re-enactors from 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A will fire one of the Ohio Statehouse’s bronze cannons from the West Plaza (High Street side) of Capitol Square at 11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 12 p.m.

The Veterans Parade starts at 12 p.m. and will pass through the intersection of Broad Street and High Street. Parade details at: https://www.ohiomilvets.org/page-5.

As these sounds can be startling, we wish to give advance notice to everyone working on and near Capitol Square.

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(Columbus, Ohio) – The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation (CSF) announce that the nomination process for the 2023 “Great Ohioans Award” is now open and the CSF is accepting nominations. The Great Ohioan Award commemorates Ohioans who have played a significant role in an event or series of events of lasting significance in world, American or Ohio history. To be selected for the Great Ohioan Award, the nominee must have resided in Ohio for a minimum of five years. In addition, at least 25 years must have passed since the event in which the nominee participated is being commemorated. Nomination deadline is Monday, December 5, 2022.

The Great Ohioan exhibit at the Ohio Statehouse Museum includes 57 people with notable achievements. John Glenn, Toni Morrison and Annie Oakley are among the names of those who made their mark in our history. The exhibit lets visitors learn about the recipients of the Great Ohioan award and discover how they affected local, national and world history. The exhibit uses videos, facts and photos to explore the life and legacy of each Great Ohioan.

For more information on the Great Ohioan Award and to nominate an individual please visit ohiostatehouse.org and https://ohcapitolsquarefoundation.org/great-ohioans/


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(COLUMBUS, OH) — Members of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) will meet Thursday, October 20, 2022 at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus. The business meeting will be held in the State Room (room #108) and will begin at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting agenda is available upon request.

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COLUMBUS, OH – A limited number of tickets are still available for the 2022 Haunted Statehouse Tours at the Ohio Statehouse. These special tours of the Capitol building will take place over two Friday and two Saturday evenings: Oct. 14-15 and 21-22. Each night, five tours will start every half hour at 7, 7:30, 8, 8:30 and 9 p.m.

Tickets must be preordered through the Statehouse Museum Shop in one of three ways:
- online at statehouseshop.com;
- by calling 614-728-9234; or
- by visiting the Statehouse Museum Shop on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse.

Prices are $13 for adults and $7 for students ages 17 and under, plus a processing fee of $2.50 per order. The tour is spooky and not recommended for children under the age of 12. Tickets are limited to 35 per tour; please note that several tours have already sold out.

This year’s Haunted Statehouse Tours will feature recorded evidence of paranormal activity inside the Capitol building, a unique route through its darkened hallways and dimly lit limestone walls, and a stop inside the Governor’s Office! Conductors will lead visitors by lantern as they combine fact and legend to narrate the history of the Ohio Statehouse.

The Statehouse Museum Shop will also feature a sale on Halloween merchandise in October. Starting Oct. 17, visit the Shop before your tour for 40% off Halloween merchandise. The sale applies to in-stock items only and does not include tour tickets.

For a full description of the 2022 Haunted Statehouse Tours, visit ohiostatehouse.org/calendar. For questions, please contact Dayna Jalkanen at 614-728-2697. High-resolution press images of previous years’ tours are also available at ohiostatehouse.org/galleries.

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In honor of the lives lost in the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, the flags of the United States of America and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio from sunrise to sunset on September 11, 2022.

Furthermore, Governor DeWine asks that all Ohioans observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor the innocent Americans and people from all around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks on Septemeber 11, 2001.

Photo shows the current display of flags on the lawn of the Ohio Statehouse. Each flag stands for one life lost in 9/11. The memorial flag display is open to the public in Columbus until noon Sept. 13, 2022.
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