Event Description
Join the State Capitol and Gov. Roy Cooper for the annual tree-lighting tradition on Thursday, Dec. 12th! The festivities begin on Capitol Square at 5 p.m. with luminaries and holiday music. There will be music performances by the Raleigh Concert Band and dance by Alicia's School of the Performing Arts. The governor and dignitaries will make their way to the South grounds at 6:15 p.m. to officially begin the ceremony. The lit tree will be visible the length of Fayetteville Street. The Junior Woman’s Club will give away cookies and hot chocolate – and even Santa is scheduled to make an appearance!
The Capitol’s annual holiday open house will begin at 6:30 p.m. following the ceremony, with the Wake Med Chorus performing. The public is invited inside to see holiday decorations and natural greenery located throughout the building.
From Thursday, Dec. 12th – Saturday, December 14th (from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) the Capitol will have holiday music in the rotunda!
The NC Executive Mansion will also be open following the tree lighting ceremony at the Capitol on the 12th from 6 - 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13th - Saturday, Dec. 14th, the Mansion will also be open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and on Sunday, December 15th from 1-4 p.m.
Sponsors of the holiday festivities are the State Capitol Foundation, State Historic Sites Division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, N.C. Department of Administration-Facility Management, and the Junior Woman’s Club of Raleigh.
All Capitol and Mansion events are FREE and no reservations are needed or accepted.
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