Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson hosted families, community members and guests Friday for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony followed by candlelight tours at the Governor's Mansion.
As early as 5:30 p.m., a line of people patiently waiting to get in stretched from the mansion's front gate to Capitol Avenue and beyond. Chatter and excitement ensued among the crowd who enjoyed surprisingly fair weather on this festive December night.
For some, this was their first visit to the mansion.
"This year will be my first year," said Rand Swanigan, a Jefferson City resident who attended the tour with his wife and a few other family members.
"The weather was nice and the opportunity to see the tree lighting is always fun," Swanigan added.
At precisely 6 p.m., the governor and first lady came out to the mansion's front steps and greeted everyone in attendance.
"What a crowd out here," Mike Parson said. "You ready to turn these lights on tonight?"
Two Christmas trees were displayed on the mansion's grounds: a 40-foot Norway Spruce on the south lawn and an 18-foot Canaan Fir inside the mansion.
"On behalf of me and the first lady, we want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday, and we just want to thank all of you for coming out tonight," Parson said. "What a beautiful evening to celebrate, to kick off the holidays here in Jefferson City."
The governor proceeded to give his thanks to Tom and Sue Gleich, who donated the 40-foot tree, and to Hermann's Pea Ridge Tree, who supplied the 18-foot tree -- in addition to a few government departments -- before asking everyone present for a favor.
"So you have one job (tonight)," Parson said. "And that's to count 10 to one backwards. Can you do that tonight?"
"Yeah!" the crowd roared.
"All right, kids, here we go. You ready to kick this off?" Parson asked.
All in unison, the crowd of hundreds started the countdown, and when they reached one, the 40-foot Spruce blazed to life, officially commencing this year's Christmas season.
"I'm not sure I can get you all in here, but come on in!" the governor said, as people streamed into the mansion.
During the tour, visitors walked through the decorated ground floor of the Governor's mansion, enjoyed live Christmas-themed music played on the piano and posed for photos with the governor and first lady.
In another room, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus greeted guests as kids chased red and green flashing lights on the rug and parents held their toddlers and posed for photos next to the mantlepiece.
"It's just a fun time," Swanigan said. "You walk around, you see a lot of people ... and say hi to a lot of folks."
The candlelight tour hosted approximately 1,500 people, according to Kelli Jones, the governor's Communications Director, and concluded at 9 p.m.
For those who missed Friday's tours, the governor's mansion will be open for another round from 6-8 p.m. Monday.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Hundreds of people stood in line Friday night as Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion night to kick off the Christmas festivities in downtown Jefferson City. The governor flipped a big lever to turn on the lights to the tree and to the mansion that will be lit until the end of December.
Julie Smith/News Tribune The Missouri Governor's Mansion was abuzz with foot traffic Friday night as the 'People's House' was open to the public for candlelight tours. With the unseasonably warm weather, the line that formed outside stretched to around the corner on Capitol Avenue. Most people didn't mind waiting as the line was moving steadily through. The mansion will be open to the public again on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. for candlelight tours.
Julie Smith/News Tribune The Missouri Governor's Mansion was abuzz with foot traffic Friday night as the 'People's House' was open to the public for candlelight tours. With the unseasonably warm weather, the line that formed outside stretched to around the corner on Capitol Avenue. Most people didn't mind waiting as the line was moving steadily through. The mansion will be open to the public again on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. for candlelight tours.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Santa and Mrs. Claus rub the little hands of five-month-old Kata Sue Simunic as her mom, Kathryn holds her Friday night at the Governor's Mansion. Kathryn's parents, Tom and Sue Gleich, donated the tree for the mansion lawn so the family was invited to take part in the lighting festivities. Simunic said that she watched that tree grow as she grew up as it was outside of her bedroom window. She and her family where delighted to be a part of the event and to have the Clauses make such a fuss over her daughter. The mansion was open to the public for candlelight tours and will be again Monday evening from 6-8 p.m.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Santa and Mrs. Claus pose with of five-month-old Kata Sue Simunic as her mom, Kathryn holds her Friday night at the Governor's Mansion. Kathryn's parents, Tom and Sue Gleich, donated the tree for the mansion lawn so the family was invited to take part in the lighting festivities. Simunic said that she watched that tree grow as she grew up as it was outside of her bedroom window. She and her family where delighted to be a part of the event and to have the Clauses make such a fuss over her daughter. The mansion was open to the public for candlelight tours and will be again Monday evening from 6-8 p.m.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Dana, second from left, and Craig Ferguson pose with Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson, at left, Friday night during open house candlelight tours. The tours followed festivities to light up the Christmas tree in the lawn and the lights on the mansion.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Ryan Mullen, 7, poses for a photograph with Gov. Mike Parson Friday night during candlelight tours at the Governor's Mansion. He was there with his mom, Alicia Mullen, who joined the hundreds who toured the mansion during lighting ceremony festivities. The mansion will be open to the public again Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. for candlelight tours.
Julie Smith/News Tribune photo:
Hundreds of people stood in line Friday night, Dec. 2, 2022, as Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson hosted an event at the Missouri Governor's Mansion to kick off the Christmas festivities in downtown Jefferson City. The governor flipped a big lever to turn on lights to the tree and mansion.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Hundreds of people stood in line Friday night as Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion night to kick off the Christmas festivities in downtown Jefferson City. The governor flipped a big lever to turn on the lights to the tree and to the mansion that will be lit until the end of December.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion Friday night to kick off the Christmas festivities in downtown. The governor flipped a big lever to turn on the lights to the tree and to the mansion that will be lit until the end of December.
Julie Smith/News Tribune Gov. Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson hosted an event at the Governor's Mansion Friday night to kick off the Christmas festivities in downtown. The governor flipped a big lever to turn on the lights to the tree and to the mansion that will be lit until the end of December.