Pennsylvania’s state capitol is officially bright and shining for the holiday season— today was the official lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree towering in the main rotunda.

The tree has been brought in and slowly decorated over the past week. The 24 foot Douglas Fir is one of several fresh cut trees all around the capitol complex.

Governor Josh Shapiro was joined by a school choir, preschoolers, and even Santa Clause for the ceremony, where they all worked together to push down a giant lever to start the lights.

There are 1,250 LED lights and over 700 hand made ornaments hanging on the tree’s branches. Those ornaments were all made by Pennsylvania’s youngest and oldest citizens at preschools and senior centers.

Over a hundred people filled the rotunda for the Christmas tree lighting.

“It is a symbol of joy for all of us,” Governor Josh Shapiro said during the ceremony. “As we spend these next few weeks enjoying family and friends, enjoying the holidays that we celebrate, I hope everyone will just take a moment from this crazy world we live in… to appreciate all God's blessings. To appreciate all that we have here as Pennsylvanians and as Americans."

The tree was donated by Crystal Spring Tree Farms from Carbon County. The farm's owner, Chris Botek, lost his father this year, and the donated tree was one of the last ones planted before his father’s passing. The theme for this year’s ceremony was “Celebrating Together”.