First Family Announces Holiday Open House
November 21, 2007
COLUMBIA, SC – Tuesday, November 20, 2007 – The First Family today announced a special week-long holiday decoration of the Governor’s Mansion Complex (located at Richland and Lincoln Streets, downtown Columbia). The public is invited to the Holiday Open House from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at the Governor’s Mansion Complex (800 Richland Street, Columbia, SC).
From 4:30-5:30 pm during the Holiday Open House, the Sanford boys will be signing copies of Mischief in the Mansion, a children’s history book that they wrote about the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion. The book costs $15.95 and all proceeds benefit the Governor’s Mansion Foundation.
On Monday, November 26th at 10 am, students from the Lexington Technology Center will present First Lady Jenny Sanford with poinsettias. The students, members of the Future Farmers of America, grow poinsettias every year for the Governor’s Mansion. Mr. Tommy Harmon, horticulture instructor at Pelion High School, will assist in the delivery of the plants to the Mansion. Mr. Mike McCartha and the SC Tree Growers Association will deliver Christmas trees.
On Thursday, November 29th, Mansion docents and Columbia Garden Club hostesses will welcome South Carolinians to the Governor’s Mansion for a special Holiday Open House. The Mansion will again this year be decorated by the Columbia Garden Club. The Lace House will be decorated by the Iris Garden Club of Columbia, The Elloree Garden Club, the In Depth Study Club of Spartanburg, and the Reidville Garden Club. Music during the Holiday Open House will be provided by The Carillon Carolers. This year’s decorations will include a gingerbread replica of the Governor’s Mansion created by the Mansion’s Executive Chef Mike Deevey.
Both the Mansion and the recently-refurbished Lace House will be open to the public and members of the media at the Holiday Open House. The Holiday Open House will be free of charge and open to the public. The Mansion gift shop, located in the basement of the Caldwell-Boylston House, will also be open during the tour. The Mansion will be open for tours by appointment through the holidays – please contact Nancy Bunch at 803-737-1710 for availability.
For more information regarding the open house, the poinsettia presentation, or the gingerbread houses please contact Curry Hagerty at the Governor’s Mansion at 803-737-4772.
Editor’s Note: Those wishing to shoot still photographs and b-roll video of the Mansion Complex in advance of the Open House (to which they are also invited) should come to the Mansion on November 29th between 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Interested press should contact Curry Hagerty in the First Lady’s Office 803-737-4772 to confirm a time.
