Holiday Open House At The Governor's Mansion

A Press Release From The Governor's Office

Governor Dannel P. Malloy and First Lady Cathy Malloy are inviting Connecticut residents to attend the annual open house and tour of the Governor’s Residence, located at 990 Prospect Avenue in Hartford, which will be decorated for the holiday season and open to the public.

This year’s open house will be held:

• Friday, December 6, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 8, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“My wife Cathy and I look forward to opening the Governor’s Residence each year, continuing a longstanding Connecticut tradition and sharing in everyone’s holiday spirit,” Governor Malloy said.  “We are proud of the Connecticut businesses and organizations who each year so generously donate festive decorations, in addition to having the opportunity to display decorations from our family’s own personal collection.”

There is no admittance fee and tickets are not needed.  Additionally, the Governor’s Residence is ADA accessible.  Tours will be aided by about 30 volunteer docents, some of whom have volunteered for over 20 years.  The Residence will display four decorated Christmas trees and feature appearances from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus greeting children throughout the weekend.  Visitors are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy, which will be collected by members of the United States Marines for the Toys for Tots program.

Live entertainment will be performed by the following: 

Friday, December 6

10:00-11:00 a.m. – Coast Guard Choir (Dr. Bob Newtown, Director)

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Travelers Choir

Saturday, December 7

10:00-11:00 a.m. – Emmanuel Christian Academy bell ringers (Glen Mason, Director)

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – On the List (Flute Ensemble) (Erin Vivero, Director)

12:30-1:30 p.m. – Choraliers (Hall High School, West Hartford)

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Manchester Symphony Chorale

Sunday, December 8

12:00-1:00 p.m. – Sweet Harmony (Nicole Raposo, Director) and Densonians (Tim Rhone, Director)

1:00-2:00 p.m. – Charter Pal Flutes (Virginia Church, Director)

2:00-3:00 p.m. – Solo Choir (Conard High School, West Hartford) (Sam Eurich, Director)

3:00-4:00 p.m. – CONN Men (UConn, Storrs)

While at the open house, guests can also purchase the Governor’s annual holiday ornament, which this year features the Governor’s Residence Guest Cottage, which is located on the east side of the property.  It will be sold for $20 and all proceeds will benefit the Governor’s Residence Conservancy, a nonprofit organization responsible for planning and supervising the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the Residence and its grounds.

This is the 23rd year that the holiday decorations, including wreaths, Christmas trees and seasonal plants, have been donated to the Residence at no cost to the state.  This year, those generous donations come from the Connecticut Nursery & Landscape Association, the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association, the Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association, Christmas Northeast Inc. (GE Holiday lighting of Trumbull), and the UConn Horticultural and Agricultural Department. In addition, decorations this year will include gingerbread houses of historic sites made by Sweet Maria’s (Waterbury), Café Louise and Classic Cakes (West Hartford), Max Downtown (Hartford) and Spellbound (Avon).

Those with additional questions about the open house should email Carol.Oshea@ct.gov or call 860-524-7355.  Information about the history of the Governor’s Residence can be found on the Governor’s website.