BISMARCK, N.D. – In an event filled with music, readings and remarks on Tuesday, Dec. 2, members of the public were in attendance as Gov. Kelly Armstrong and First Lady Kjersti Armstrong hosted the 44th annual North Dakota State Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Memorial Hall at the Capitol.
First Lady Armstrong welcomed those in attendance. “It’s a special time to gather in Memorial Hall with friends, family, coworkers and our fellow North Dakotans to celebrate joy, connection and the light this holiday season,” she said.
The first lady selected “Peace” as the theme of this year’s State Christmas Tree, which will be on public display throughout the holiday season and has been decorated with handmade ornaments submitted by the public over the years. “That includes 170 new ornaments donated this year,” she said. “Each ornament on the tree is a shining example of the giving spirit of North Dakotans.”
Gov. Armstrong said, “For over 30 years, North Dakota has invited artists and craftsmen to donate handmade ornaments for the state tree. These ornaments are the work of 4H Clubs, schools, churches, community centers, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, as well as gifted and creative individuals from around the state and the nation. These gifts represent the character and ingenuity embodied in all North Dakotans.”
“The theme of peace resonates with us in a number of ways,” First Lady Armstrong said, adding that the theme is the anchor of North Dakota’s nickname, “The Peace Garden State,” referring to the International Peace Garden that straddles the boundary between North Dakota and Manitoba.
“For this year’s tree lighting, we chose peace as not only a theme, but as a call to action, for all of us to collectively contribute to the illumination of peace, hope and positivity,” she said. “With all of the uncertainty and unrest we are facing, peace should be at the forefront.”
Donovan Lambert, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran originally from Spirit Lake Nation and now the cultural responsive coordinator for the Office of Indian Education in the Bismarck Public Schools system, stepped forward to offer a spiritual request. “One of the things we’re taught as Dakota people is to share all our knowledge with the youth growing up and the people around,” he said. “I’d like to share a word that is shared amongst our people. It’s ‘Mitakuye Owas’iƞ,’ which means ‘we’re all related.’ … We’re related to everything here on Mother Earth, and it’s our responsibility to take care of Mother Earth so Mother Earth can take care of us. I think that holds true meaning to this tree that we’re lighting here tonight.”
Lambert then asked one of his former students to offer a blessing. Now in college, Haiden Person introduced himself as an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and said that in their Indigenous culture, winter is a time when people come together as a community, pointing out the parallels of everyone present for the tree lighting ceremony in that same sense of community. “In these holiday times, I would just like everyone to just do little things (for) other people, because you never know what people are going through.”
Just prior to the tree lighting, a group of girls varying in age level from toddler to teen approached the tree, each to hang their own handmade ornaments, followed by a special guest. Gov. Armstrong’s mother Connie presented a handmade cross-stitched ornament from the governor’s childhood for the tree, which she and her son hung together.
Grade schooler Brinkley Lindsey was ready in her maroon dress as the audience counted down from ten and the hall lights dimmed, then she hit the switch and the Christmas lights on the tree sparkled to life amid applause.
Livestreamed on the governor’s Facebook page, the event featured performances by the 2025 Governor’s Band and Chorus – the St. Mary’s Central High School Wind Orchestra of Bismarck and the Davies High School Vivace group of Fargo. There was also an appearance by Santa Claus.
Gov. Armstong also took time to recognize all statewide elected officials and legislators in attendance. “(I want to) thank them for their dedicated service to the citizens of North Dakota,” he said. “Most importantly, I’d like to thank everyone here in Memorial Hall and to those watching online for taking the time to be here and usher in the holiday season.”
Prior to the ceremony, live reindeer, courtesy of Northern Lights Ranch in Garrison, were available for public enjoyment from 4:30 to 6 p.m. between the Capitol and south visitor’s lot.
