Tree lighting planned at Mo. Governor's Mansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A series of events at the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City mark the start of the holiday season.

Gov. Jay Nixon and first lady Georganne Nixon planned to flip a switch lighting up a 25-foot-tall outdoor Christmas tree at 6 p.m. Friday.

Visitors to the mansion near the state Capitol will be offered candlelight tours Friday evening and again from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Inside, an eastern white pine near the grand staircase will be decorated in gold and burgundy. Two more eastern white pines in the parlor have decorations featuring Missouri's state bird, the bluebird. Two other trees in the library are decorated with flowers from the state tree, the dogwood.

All of the Christmas trees come from Missouri nurseries and farms.