STATEHOUSE NEWS

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Columbus, OH— On Monday, December 4, the Ohio Statehouse will host its annual Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature activity tables, complimentary cookies, dance performances, choirs and other demonstrations that will certainly put guests in a jolly holiday spirit. This joyous event is free and open to the public.

The night will begin with the Governor and First Lady, Mike and Fran DeWine, starting the tree lighting ceremony and introducing Santa and Mrs. Claus. After the tree has been lit, everyone will be free to roam the Atrium, Rotunda and ground floor to find craft tables, mascots, entertainment and refreshments. The refreshments will be provided by the Ohio Statehouse approved caterers. Do not forget to grab a memento through snapping a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Entertainment will take place in the Atrium and the Museum Gallery at various times throughout the night:
· Columbus Children’s Choir (Atrium-5:00 p.m.)
· OhioDance (Atrium-5:45 p.m.)
· K-9 Demonstration by Ohio State Highway Patrol (Museum Gallery-5:45 p.m.)
· JG Company of John Glenn High School (Museum Gallery-6:10 p.m.)
· All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir (Museum Gallery-6:35 p.m.)
· Pickerington High School Chamber Strings (Museum Gallery-7 p.m.)
· Drake Dance Academy (Atrium-7 - 7:30 p.m.)

An assortment of craft tables will be all around the Statehouse with wonderful organizations running them:
· Ohio Paper Folders
· Ohio Queens
· Ohio Department of Natural Resources
· National Veterans Memorial Museum
· Office of Ohio State Treasurer
· Office of Ohio Auditor of State
· Office of Ohio Secretary of State
· 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A
· Ohio Statehouse Museum Education Center
· TourismOhio

Also, keep a look-out for some fun-loving mascots moseying about:
· The Chick-fil-A Cow
· LouSeal and Krash of the Columbus Clippers
· S.C. and Crew Cat of the Columbus Crew
· The Geico Gecko
· Fireball of Fire & Ice
· Honeybee of Lifeline of Ohio
· Bee-Thovan of the Columbus Symphony
· Goaldie of the Columbus Eagles
· Butters D. Cow of The Ohio State Fair

Stop by the Statehouse on December 4 to kick off the holiday season! For your convenience, affordable parking will be available within the Statehouse’s underground parking garage. We hope to see you there!

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