• PIERRE, S.D. - The 2012 Grand Lighting Ceremony for Christmas at the South Dakota Capitol will take place in the rotunda on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m. CST.
•  The public is invited to join Gov. Dennis Daugaard, First Lady Linda Daugaard and Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill as they welcome guests and light the Capitol trees.
•  The Capitol Christmas display includes nearly 100 trees that are decorated by volunteers from communities, schools, churches, nonprofit organizations and government offices across the state. 
•  The largest of the trees in the rotunda was decorated by the Girl Scouts - Dakota Horizons.  The 35-foot blue spruce was donated by Pierre residents Josh and Mary Arntz.  It was trimmed to fit in the Capitol.
•  Pre-event music for the tree lighting ceremony will begin at 6 p.m., featuring Frank Turner, Allyson Gortmaker, and Annie Hanson. 
•  The 2012 Grand Lighting Ceremony will feature musical performances by Carol Johnson, Buchanan Elementary School fifth-graders, and Andrew Kightlinger.
•  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. 21 through Dec. 26.  Anyone wishing to provide entertainment at the Capitol during the holiday season should contact Diane Kehrwald at diane.kehrwald@state.sd.us or call her at 605-773-5434.