Joyful Night Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Joyful Night Coming To State Capitol, And Streaming Online

West Virginians are invited to kick off the holiday season tonight at the State Capitol.

The 2024 Joyful Night celebration starts tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. on the south steps of the West Virginia State Capitol. The holiday event, touted as the state’s opening to the holiday season, includes a ceremonial tree lighting, a reception and musical performances from students.

The focal point of this year’s festivities is the lighting of the state Christmas tree, a 54-foot Norway spruce harvested from Pocahontas County’s Watoga State Park. Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice will light the tree at 6:30 p.m.

Before the lighting, school choirs and bands from Woodrow Wilson High School, Nitro High School, and Barboursville Elementary will perform seasonal tunes on the Lincoln Plaza on the south side of the Capitol at 6 p.m.

Decorations will also be up throughout the Capitol complex. In the West Rotunda of the State Capitol, visitors can admire trees honoring Gold Star Mothers, members of the armed forces, and first responders. The Red Cross will also be present, providing a special card for active-duty military personnel.

The Culture Center’s Great Hall will also be offering light refreshments and showcasing the winning ornaments from the First Lady’s West Virginia Student Ornament Competition.

For those unable to attend the event in person, West Virginia Public Broadcasting will broadcast the celebration live online and on the West Virginia Channel.

State Christmas Tree Lighting A ‘Joyful Night’

The West Virginia tree lighting event Joyful Night begins Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol Complex.

The state Christmas tree is a 50-foot-tall Balsam Fir from Randolph County’s Kumbrabow State Forest.

The West Virginia Division of Forestry, the General Services Division and the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) all participated in the cutting, transporting and positioning of the tree.

At 6:30 p.m, Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice will light the tree.

There will be seasonal music from the Philip Barbour High School Band, Capital High School VIPs Show Choir and the Barboursville Elementary Choir.

There will also be a special reading of a Marc Harshman Christmas poem by Winfield High School student and creative writing contest winner Braylee Smolder.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting will broadcast the celebration live on the West Virginia Channel. An encore of the celebration will be broadcast on Saturday at 5 p.m. on the West Virginia Channel.

Viewers can also tune in to the governor’s and first lady’s social media platforms – YouTube, X and Facebook.

W.Va.'s Joyful Night Holiday Celebration To Be Held Virtually

For the second straight year, West Virginia’s Joyful Night celebration at the state Capitol will be held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The holiday event with Gov. Jim Justice and first lady Cathy Justice in Charleston is scheduled to be broadcast at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 on the West Virginia Channel and on social media platforms. It will include the annual lighting of the state Christmas tree and performances from school bands.

Cathy Justice also will announce student ornament contest winners.

Hundreds Expected at West Virginia Capitol's Holiday Fest

With hundreds of people expected at Tuesday’s holiday celebration at the West Virginia Capitol, police plan to detour some traffic starting in the afternoon.

Gov. Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice are hosting the annual gathering.

The Joyful Night program is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Plaza of the Capitol with the state Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m.

It includes performances by West Virginia high school bands and a tribute to the state’s military members, veterans, Gold Star Families and first responders.

Trees Selected for W.Va. Capitol Holiday Displays

A tree that had grown too big at a home in Randolph County is coming to West Virginia’s state Capitol for a holiday display.

The 30-foot blue spruce has been in the front yard of Ed and Ginny Dumire’s Beverly home for more than two decades. The couple donated it for public viewing at the Capitol complex in Charleston.

State Department of Administration spokeswoman Diane Holley-Brown says the tree will be on display at the north fountain at the Capitol this holiday season. Another tree donated from a South Charleston church will adorn the Capitol’s south side, and a third tree from Fayette County will go up at the governor’s mansion.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will lead a lighting ceremony Tuesday night as part of the annual Joyful Night celebration.

Governor, First Lady Prepare for Capitol Holiday Celebration

West Virginia’s annual Joyful Night celebration and tree lighting ceremony is set at the State Capitol Complex.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday on the North Plaza.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says the program will include a salute to West Virginia military members and first responders and a special thank you to the state’s teachers.

The governor and first lady are encouraging those attending to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. Donation bins will be located in the Capitol Rotunda.