Arkansas State Capitol Lights up for Christmas Saturday
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 30, 2012
The Arkansas State Capitol lights up for Christmas on Saturday.
The 74th annual lighting ceremony begins at dusk, flipping the switch on about 100,000 lights that outline the building and dome.
"I hope Arkansans will join us for this event," says Secretary of State Mark Martin. "This is a great tradition begun by Secretary of State Crip Hall, and I am honored to continue it."
The ceremony follows Little Rock's Big Jingle Jubilee parade.
The Episcopal Collegiate School "Steel Cats" will open the ceremony.
After the ceremony, Santa will be available to visit with children in the Capitol Rotunda, while local choral groups Top of the Rock and Diamond State Men's Chorus perform.
The grand lighting ceremony concludes with a fireworks show above the dome.
Starting Tuesday, and continuing through December 14th, school choirs and dance troupes from across the state will perform in the Rotunda. Click here for the complete schedule.
The Capitol lighting ceremony started in 1938. Then-Secretary of State Hall introduced the Capitol Christmas lights as a gift to children in the Arkansas Children's Infirmary.
"This year's event is especially meaningful, because Arkansas Children's Hospital celebrated its hundredth birthday," Martin said. "In honor of that, we're donating 10-percent of proceeds of the sales of the 2012 Capitol Christmas ornament, to the hospital."
This year's ornament features an enameled version of the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas. It is available in the Capitol gift shop or online (click here).
The Capitol is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
The 74th annual lighting ceremony begins at dusk, flipping the switch on about 100,000 lights that outline the building and dome.
"I hope Arkansans will join us for this event," says Secretary of State Mark Martin. "This is a great tradition begun by Secretary of State Crip Hall, and I am honored to continue it."
The ceremony follows Little Rock's Big Jingle Jubilee parade.
The Episcopal Collegiate School "Steel Cats" will open the ceremony.
After the ceremony, Santa will be available to visit with children in the Capitol Rotunda, while local choral groups Top of the Rock and Diamond State Men's Chorus perform.
The grand lighting ceremony concludes with a fireworks show above the dome.
Starting Tuesday, and continuing through December 14th, school choirs and dance troupes from across the state will perform in the Rotunda. Click here for the complete schedule.
The Capitol lighting ceremony started in 1938. Then-Secretary of State Hall introduced the Capitol Christmas lights as a gift to children in the Arkansas Children's Infirmary.
"This year's event is especially meaningful, because Arkansas Children's Hospital celebrated its hundredth birthday," Martin said. "In honor of that, we're donating 10-percent of proceeds of the sales of the 2012 Capitol Christmas ornament, to the hospital."
This year's ornament features an enameled version of the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas. It is available in the Capitol gift shop or online (click here).
The Capitol is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
