Pierre kicks off holiday season with 'Christmas at the Capitol'
Exhibit that started with 12 trees now features more than 90
Christmas at the Capitol is officially under way in Pierre.
Community members gathered with local and state leaders for the annual lighting ceremony Tuesday night, officially kicking off the holiday season, this year themed “winter wonderland.”
“Winter wonderland can mean a lot of things to a lot of people,” said Pierre Mayor Steve Harding, who emceed the event. “It just depends on who you are.”
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Christmas at the Capitol first began in Pierre in 1981, when a modest display of 12 trees occupied the home of South Dakota’s government for the holiday season. Now, more than 90 trees adorn the building.
Trees are decorated by community groups, schools, churches and government offices from across the state. Demand to lay claim to a tree has been so high in past years that many would-be sponsors have had to be turned away.
This year’s Christmas at the Capitol flagship tree in the rotunda is a 27-foot Blacks Hills spruce from Onida. Gov. Kristi Noem said the tree was one of two planted by Larry and Claire Martin in 1984, to honor their two infant twins who had passed away.
“Because this tree needed to be moved, they decided to donate it to us,” Noem said. “As we stand here during this season and as we light it, we can remember not only how this special family turned a tragedy in their lives into something beautiful, but how it is still blessing us decades later.”
The main tree was donated by Isaac LaLonde, and was decorated by the Great Plains Zoo in honor of its 60th anniversary.
This year, Jessie and Katie Harris of Winner and their seven children were selected to light the trees as the ceremonial kick off to the 2023 Christmas season. The Harris family was selected for the honor in recognition of their work fostering and adopting children.
Noem says she hopes people find ways to bless others this holiday season, just like the Harris family had done for their kids.
“I’m hoping that more and more families in this state will be inspired to become foster parents,” Noem said.
The Christmas at the Capitol display will be open to the public every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Dec. 26.






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