STATEHOUSE NEWS
Tours of the Ohio Statehouse: Open to the Public
December 21, 2022
Tours of the Ohio Statehouse
Your visiting friends and family may be interested in a free tour of the Ohio Statehouse.

Guided tours of the Ohio Statehouse tours are available on weekdays on the hour from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and on weekends on the hour from noon-3 p.m., with the exception of state holidays and specific events.

The Statehouse will be closed on the following days:
December 25-26 Christmas Holiday
January 1-2 New Year’s Holiday

Guided tours will be unavailable on the following days:
January 5-9 Governor’s Inauguration

For any questions regarding guided tours of the Statehouse, or to schedule a private tour for groups of 10 or more, please call Katie Montgomery at 614-728-3726.
 
 
 
Half-staff flags for Deputy Kin
December 16, 2022
Half-staff flags at the Ohio Statehouse
In honor of the life and service of Wyandot County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel J. Kin, the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Wyandot County and at the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, and Rhodes Tower today, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral.

All other public buildings and grounds throughout the state may fly the flags at half-staff at their discretion for the same time.
 
 
 
Half-staff flags for Pearl Harbor remembrance
December 6, 2022
Flags at half-staff in Ohio
In honor of the lives lost on December 7, 1941 in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in accordance with orders from the President and the Governor of Ohio, the flags of the United States of America and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout the State of Ohio from midnight to midnight on December 7, 2022.
 
 
 
Santa Photos and Tree Lighting
December 1, 2022
Tree Lighting 2022
Photos of the Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting, Dec. 1 ,2022
can be seen here:
https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/holiday-festival-and-tree-lighting-2022

Some photos with Santa are posted here:
https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/holiday-santa-photos-2022

More photos will be posted soon!
 
 
 
Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting - Dec. 1
November 22, 2022
Tree Lighting in the Atrium
Columbus, OH – It’s almost that time of the year! Bring your family, friends and holiday cheer to the 2022 Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting at the Ohio Statehouse. This year’s celebration will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board continues to offer this family-friend event free to the public.

Every year, the Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting kicks off the holiday season on Capitol Square. The Tree Lighting in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium consists of a short ceremony in which Governor Mike DeWine will give introductory remarks, light the historically decorated tree and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Tree Lighting will be live-streamed on OhioChannel.org.

When the ceremony ends, the Holiday Festival continues with a wide range of arts and crafts, special performances by local choirs and dancers from OhioDance and Drake Dance Academy, mascots, complimentary cookies and more. The Ohio State Highway Patrol will demonstrate its K-9 unit. A free photo station will capture your family’s moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

This year, OhioDance looks forward to offering an extensive program of performances that include ballet, tap, hip hop, salsa, dance combining Indian and western musical instruments, Irish folk and more!

Musical performers include Annehurst Elementary School, from Westerville; John Glenn High School, from New Concord; Pickerington North High School, from Pickerington; and the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. Craft and activity stations are sponsored by many local organizations and government agencies.

Join us on this magical night at the Ohio Statehouse to kick off your holiday season! Convenient and affordable parking will be available in the Ohio Statehouse Underground Parking Garage. Find rates at OhioStatehouse.org.

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Celebrate the Holidays in December
November 21, 2022
Holiday Festival
Columbus, OH – The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) invites the public to celebrate holidays in December at the Ohio Statehouse. Starting at the 2022 Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting, CSRAB then welcomes all to enjoy other activities throughout the rest of the month: performances by local schools, decorations, tours and special items and sales at the Statehouse Museum Shop.

Capitol Square will kick off the holiday season at the annual Ohio Statehouse Holiday Festival and Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 1. After Governor DeWine gives introductory remarks and lights the tree in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium, a wide range of activities and performances by Ohio choirs and dance companies will take place throughout the evening. Find further details about this family-friendly event on the Statehouse calendar at OhioStatehouse.org.

During the rest of December, other special performances by students from across Ohio will be open to the public. On weekdays, school choirs will perform at noon in the Museum Gallery, on the ground floor of the Ohio Statehouse. As the legislative schedule allows, The Ohio Channel will also live-stream each concert:

Dec. 6 Lancaster High School Chamber Singers
Dec. 7 Sidney High School Symphonic Choir
Dec. 8 JG Company from John Glenn High School
Dec. 9 Northside Christian School Choir

Dec. 12 Johnstown-Monroe High School Choir
Dec. 13 North Royalton High School Choir
Dec. 14 Fort Hayes Metropolitan Singers
Dec. 15 Logan High School Chamber Singers
Dec. 16 Bexley High School Vocal Ensemble

Dec. 19 Kenton Ridge Chamber Singers
Dec. 20 Columbus Cello Choir from Columbus Cello School


Throughout the month, the Statehouse Museum Shop will feature Ohio-themed gifts and the collectible 2022 Ohio Statehouse Christmas Ornament. Visitors to the Ohio Statehouse from December 5 through December 9 may have a sweet discount during the Candy Cane Sale. Shoppers may pull a candy cane to find a discount of 15% to 40% off their total purchase. See Shop for details and exclusions.

The Ohio Statehouse also offers public tours every day except state holidays. Guided tours start in the Map Room, on the ground floor, at the top of every hour, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and 12 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Out-of-town guests may enjoy a free tour of the Ohio Statehouse during their stay in Ohio.

Inside the Ohio Statehouse, decorations reminiscent of the nineteenth century highlight the historical character of the building, completed in 1861. Outside, red and green lights will illuminate Capitol Square.

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Half-staff flags for Firefighter Tetrick
November 20, 2022
Half-staff flags at the Ohio Statehouse
In honor of the life and service of Cleveland Firefighter Johnny Tetrick, the flags of the United States and the State of Ohio shall be flown at half-staff upon all public buildings and grounds throughout Cuyahoga County, the Ohio Statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center, and the Rhodes State Office Tower on November 20, 2022, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.
 
 
 
Cannon Firing Advisory Nov. 10
Veterans Parade in Columbus
November 8, 2022
Veterans Parade Cannon Firing
Please be informed that a Civil War-era cannon will be fired from the West Plaza of the Ohio Statehouse Thursday, November 10, 2022.

As part of the City of Columbus Veterans Day Parade, historical re-enactors from 1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A will fire one of the Ohio Statehouse’s bronze cannons from the West Plaza (High Street side) of Capitol Square at 11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., and 12 p.m.

The Veterans Parade starts at 12 p.m. and will pass through the intersection of Broad Street and High Street. Parade details at: https://www.ohiomilvets.org/page-5.

As these sounds can be startling, we wish to give advance notice to everyone working on and near Capitol Square.
 
 
 
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