PIERRE — The 2017 Grand Lighting Ceremony for Christmas at the South Dakota Capitol will take place in the rotunda at 7 p.m., CST, on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The public is invited to join Gov. Dennis Daugaard, First Lady Linda Daugaard and Fort Pierre Mayor Gloria Hanson as they welcome guests and light the Capitol trees.
The Capitol Christmas display includes over 90 trees decorated by volunteers from communities, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations and state government offices. This year’s theme for Christmas at the Capitol is “The Colors of Christmas.”
The largest tree in the Capitol, a 27.5-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, is being decorated by the Fort Pierre Bicentennial Committee and was donated by Mary and Iver Finnesand of Grenville. After being trimmed, the tree stands at 24.5 feet in the rotunda.

At the ceremony, music will be provided by the Pierre 4, Stanley County Elementary School choirs and Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School.
Immediately after the ceremony, kids of all ages can pose for pictures with Santa Claus in front of the South Dakota Christmas tree. Parents are reminded to bring their cameras.
Refreshments, donated by Lynn’s Dakotamart in Pierre, will be served on the first floor of the Capitol.
The holiday display will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from Nov. 22 through Dec. 27.

                                       
You can follow the Christmas at the Capitol events on Facebook or visit the website at christmasatthecapitol.sd.gov.