No matter where you stand on the age old debate of when to put up your Christmas decorations, it’s hard to ignore the holly jolly vibes coming from the Governor’s Mansion these days. Soirée jumped into the holiday spirit head first for a special tour of the space with Arkansas first lady Susan Hutchinson.
It began with a theme, an idea to base the year’s design on George Frideric Handel’s iconic musical piece “Messiah.” Two weeks, six truck loads and 30 volunteers later, the mansion is almost complete just in time for its annual holiday activities.
Across the 30,000-sf abode, each room has a different atmosphere. One tree is covered in Renaissance era crowns as a nod to Handel’s lyrics, another has cardinals perched in its branches. Garland and lights wrap each banister and doorway and Christmas-themed artwork on loan from Fellowship Bible Church is on display. Approximately a dozen trees will be set up in the mansion for guests to enjoy, along with the “Old World Coffee Shop” complete with pastries, coffee, hot chocolate and souvenir ornaments.
The most stunning design, however, is the transformation of the Grand Hall into an 18th Century gothic cathedral designed in homage to the type of venue where Handel’s “Messiah” would originally be performed. Marble pillars, wooden rafters, giant pipe organs and more adorn the hall, most made out of an unsuspecting material — styrofoam.
Volunteers were busily assembling the space when we took our tour, so you’ll have to visit it to see the final product yourself.
Decorations are provided by the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Association, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the restoration and preservation of the mansion.
“I wish that every single Arkansan could experience the beauty and awe of the mansion during this glorious time of the year, and I do hope people from every single corner of the state will be able to attend at least one of these upcoming events,” Hutchinson said.
The Governor’s Mansion will open its doors to the public for an open house tour from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. It will also host a “Tribute to Handel” concert at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9 featuring choirs from Ouachita Baptist University and Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock. You can also attend a Christmas high tea at the mansion during the week of Dec. 12-16 from 2-4 p.m.
To get tickets to any of these events, click here or call (501) 324-9805 for more information.
And for the record, when she’s not at the mansion, the first lady waits until after her husband’s birthday on Dec. 3 to decorate for Christmas so they can celebrate both holidays.
Psst! Head to Instagram for our Insta-exclusive shot of the behind-the-scenes magic!