Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Portion Of Osborne's Lights To Be At Capitol

Secretary of State Sharon Priest has released details about a festive first to take place at the State Capitol in Little Rock.

"Our classic Capitol building and the front lawn will come alive with millions of miniature white lights during the upcoming holiday season," she announced.

"The million-light extravaganza will be possible because of the generosity of Jennings Osborne of Little Rock, who joins me on a mission to attract more people from around the state to enjoy the beauty of our Capitol during the holidays," Priest said.

"Osborne's offer to help decorate the Capitol came at an opportune time, since the lights and wiring atop the Capitol are wearing out. Many of the nearly 4,000 lights and wiring would have to be replaced, so his gift will save the state a lot of money," she said.

Other new features of this year's blueprint for beauty at the Capitol will feature two 100-foot trees of lights on the front lawn, white lights on the columns, as well as a miniature holiday scene in the capitol rotunda highlighting electric trains.

The outdoor Capitol lighting ceremony will take place at 5:45 p.m. Saturday, December 7, immedidately following the annual downtown Christmas parade.

"Last year's traditional decorations will also be brought back even bigger and better," said Priest. These include six live decorated trees lining the Capitol steps, plus the live, lighted 35-foot outdoor official state tree. The official tree will be flanked by seven- to eight-foot lighted trees representing all 75 counties in the state. The trees will be decorated by dozens of Arkansans from the various counties.

The traditional blue peace sign, which holds special significance for armed forces groups, will be turned on again this year on Pearl Harbor Day, which coincides with the annual Capitol lighting ceremony Decebmer 7.

Again featured this year will be a weekend Capitol arts and crafts show, the 106th Army Band, choirs from around the state, four holiday exhibit cases, a 25-foot lighted indoor tree as well as traditional wreaths, flowers and other decorations throughout the capitol building.

"Two very special additions to this year's holiday celebration will be for Arkansas children," Priest said. "First we will be joined at the lighting ceremony with the official Mickey Mouse from Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. Mickey will assist the children from Easter Seal Society of Arkansas in turning on the Capitol's lights. He will entertain all the children inside the Capitol while waiting for a personal visit with Santa.

"The second children's surprise will be an original fireworks extravaganza, which will light the sky for ten consecutive minutes. This incredible choreograpyhed display will be a delight to children of all ages," she said.

"I join with other Arkansans around the state in thanking the Osborne family for their generosity in ensuring that our Capitol will be a building of brilliance during the upcoming holiday season," Priest concluded.