ST. PAUL, MN - The 2014 Holiday Season at the Minnesota Governor's Residence will kick-off on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014. The Residence will be open for public tours on December 2, 9 and 16 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. No reservations are required and tours will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Residence is a collection site for Second Harvest Heartland, the Midwest's largest hunger relief program, and will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items throughout the Holiday Season.

The interior of the Residence has been decorated by Studio Emme, Holiday Bliss, Mama's Happy, Scussi, Foxglove Market and Quince. These six local designers have generously donated the design, materials and installation of the holiday decorations. In the Solarium, there is a live 10-foot tree, donated by Jan's Christmas Trees of Clear Lake, Minnesota. The tree is decorated with ornaments created by patients at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital. Each tour will feature a live performance from local musicians, including pianist Paulette Day on December 2, the Robbinsdale Armstrong Chamber Singers on December 9, and the Concordia Academy Choir on December 16.

During the tours, volunteer docents from the Women's Auxiliary of the Minnesota Historical Society will be on-hand to answer questions in each room on the First Floor and Lower Level of the Residence. The 1006 Summit Avenue Society will also offer a selection of merchandise available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale will help to support the historic Residence.

The tree will be lit for the first time the evening of December 1, 2014, on the front lawn of the Residence. The 20-foot balsam fir was harvested from the Nemadji State Forest by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and members of Conservation Corps Minnesota. Rocket Crane Company and Rainbow Lawncare donated installation and decoration services, with over 14,000 LED lights hung on the tree. The gates outside the Residence are decorated with fresh spruce garland and LED lights, and wreaths are hung on the front doorway, all donated by Mickman Brothers. Four holiday baskets are hung under the porte-cochere, donated by Bachman's Floral Gift and Garden. The Summit Avenue entrance is decorated by Heidi's Lifestyle Gardens from Corcoran, Minnesota.

For more information on the tours, please call 651-201-3464 or email residence.gov@state.mn.us. Additional details on the holiday season at the Residence can be found on the Minnesota Department of Administration website.

What: The 1006 Society's Holiday at the Governor's Residence
When: December 2, 9 and 16 from 1:00 to 3:00
Where: 1006 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota