Governor, First Lady to host annual Joyful Night ceremony Dec. 4

CHARLESTON - Gov. Joe Manchin and First Lady Gayle Manchin invite all West Virginians to join them for the annual "Joyful Night" ceremony beginning 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the State Capitol.

The audience will be invited to join in a musical tour of the capitol, Governor's Mansion and Cultural Center.

To start the event, the governor and first lady will flip the switch to light the Christmas tree on the north plaza (fountain side). Following a color guard ceremony by the 130th National Air Guard, the Cabell Midland High School band and the Appalachian Children's Chorus will perform.

The governor and first lady will then move to the south side of the capitol (Kanawha Blvd. side), where, accompanied by a musical selection from the Robert C. Byrd High School band, they will ride a mechanical lift to "top" the second Christmas tree with a decoration.

The Doddridge County Elementary and the Martin Luther King Jr. Chorus will perform in the Capitol Rotunda. The rotunda Christmas tree will feature bell ornaments that were submitted for the 2007 Holiday Bell Ornament Contest.

The John Marshall High School Monarchs and Parkersburg High School Chorus will perform in the Governor's Reception Room, where the governor and first lady will recite "Twas the Night before Christmas."

The John Marshall Fife and Drum Corps from Marshall University will perform outside the Capitol's West Wing entrance. In case of poor weather, they will play inside the Cultural Center.

The winning ornaments of the annual ornament contest will be displayed at the Governor's Mansion. Several artists will perform, including the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's Montclaire String Quartet, the Appalachian Children's Chorus and Governor's School for the Arts students.

The Cultural Center will feature RM Dance Productions, St. Albans High School Jazz Band, Hurricane High School Show Choir, Vocal Tapestry of Fairmont and the Kanawha Valley Ringers bell choir.

For more information about "Joyful Night" performances, contact Jacqueline Proctor at (304) 558-0220.