While everyone loves a cannon, will people travel in from the suburbs just to hear it fire? I am going out on a limb here and say no. And what is with the Civil War re-enactors? Since when is the spirit of the holidays best represented by referencing state secession?
This annual event has the potential to be so much more than it is. I think this would be great if the Lighting of the Christmas Tree coincided with a free outdoor holiday concert that brought together local performing arts groups such as the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Children's Choir. An outdoor holiday crafts fair, complimentary apple cider, and seasonal food vendors would really compliment this event and make it appealing to a diverse population. I also have issue with the timing. While this event may be able to attract downtown workers who are just punching out for the day there is little time for them to collect their family members and return to the Capitol.
I am hopeful that this event will evolve and perhaps when NBC relocates their broadcasting studio downtown across from the Capital they can help sponsor an overhauled and much improved Columbus Holiday Celebration.
And no mention of a menorah or Kwanza? Really?? I guess it really is an accurately told Civil War Christmas in Columbus.
Statehouse Holiday Tree Lighting and Festival
Get ready to celebrate the holidays Downtown. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, Governor and First Lady Strickland will kick off the holiday season by lighting the 92nd annual Statehouse holiday tree. The ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm on the West steps of the Ohio Statehouse. Immediately following the tree lighting, the Governor will command the firing of a Civil War era cannon, which will signal the simultaneous lighting of the buildings on Capitol Square.
The ceremony will be followed by a free festival in the Statehouse Rotunda, with refreshments, performances, a model train display, a Santa Claus photo station, a finger printing I.D. activity station, Civil War re-enactors, a theatrical reading of A Christmas Carol, and the opportunity to visit with Clara and the Nutcracker from BalletMet's The Nutcracker and Stinger from the Blue Jackets.
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