Governor and First Lady to Light Mansion Christmas Tree

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue will light The Mansion Christmas Tree on Sunday, December 7 at 6:15 p.m. Entertainment will begin at 5:45 p.m. and will be provided by the Army Ground Forces Band, Delores Burgess, Redeemer Carillon Bell Choir, Northwest Whitfield High School Choir, Georgia College and State University Bobcat Brass Quintet, and the Atlanta Boy Choir. This year's tree, a 32-foot Norway Spruce, was grown in Blairsville, Georgia and donated by Mr. and Mrs. Roy Townsend. The United States Marines' Toys for Tots program will be accepting donated toys (unwrapped) to help make this Christmas a special one for children across Georgia. Following the tree lighting ceremony, members of the public will be invited to tour the Governor's Mansion, which will be decorated for the holidays.

The Mansion will continue to be open to the public for holiday tours from December 8-19, 2003 (Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.). To attend these tours, individuals must call the Governor's Mansion at 404-261-1776 for reservations (reservations are not required for the tree lighting ceremony). After December 19, 2003, the Mansion will close for the remainder of the holidays and reopen for public tours on January 27, 2004.