Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom will host the 94th Annual California State Capitol Tree Lighting during a ceremony inside the State Capitol on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Five-year-old twins Rebecca and Jude Kessler, from Altadena, will join Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to light the California State Capitol Tree this year.
Read this year’s press release.
Event Information
The public is invited to view the 60-foot Capitol tree, decorated with festive ornaments created by Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a tradition that began in 1983. For the third year in a row, 21 regional centers will add to the display with their own six-foot trees outside the Capitol, bringing more holiday cheer for everyone to enjoy.
New this year, the Governor’s Office of Community Service and Engagement (GO-Serve) will host a holiday food drive benefiting the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. Every donation – big or small – helps local families get the food they need.
Most-needed items include peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, beans, soups, stews, canned veggies, and canned fruit.
For those who cannot attend, this year’s Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony will be live streamed on the Governor’s Office YouTube and Facebook channels.
Meet Rebecca and Jude
Rebecca and Jude are siblings from Southern California. Early last year, the twins and their parents lost their Altadena home, car, and all personal belongings in the Eaton fire. Thanks to their parent’s support and advocacy, Rebecca and Jude are slowly adjusting to their new routine.
Both children attend a gymnastics class offered through the San Gabriel/Pomona Regional Center, which has become an important part of that routine. Their mom, Sandy, says their weekly gymnastics class gives Rebecca a sense of security while helping to improve her gross motor skills and Jude has benefitted from engaging and socializing with peers his age.
When they’re not at gymnastics, they’re busy getting creative and playing outside. Rebecca enjoys coloring, painting, and all things Christmas. She wears her Santa hat and carries around her stuffed reindeer year-round. Jude enjoys drawing, listening to music, and picking flowers. He also likes books and tasting different foods.
Rebecca and Jude were selected to help Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom light this year’s California State Capitol Tree in Sacramento. Rebecca and Jude represent the more than 450,000 Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive services from the state’s 21 nonprofit regional centers.
Hand-Crafted Ornaments and Tradition of Tree Lighters & Regional Centers
In 1983, California Governor Deukmejian, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Developmental Services updated the ceremony with a large tree placed on the west steps and decorated the tree with ornaments hand made by children and adults with developmental disabilities. At this time, Governor Deukmejian started the tradition of inviting a child with developmental disabilities who receives services from one of California’s 21 nonprofit regional centers, to hang an ornament on the Capitol tree and “hit the switch” to light the tree and help kick off the holiday season for all Californians.
Creating ornaments for the tree is a project that is enjoyed by many individuals with developmental disabilities throughout the state. Each year, there are new themes, and people’s creativity never ends!
Check out some of the ornaments that our community has crafted this year:
History of the California State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony
For over 90 years, the Governor’s Tree lighting has evolved from a small office celebration into California’s statewide commemoration kicking off the holiday season. The first use of the California State Capitol occurred during a holiday celebration in December of 1869. The holiday tree lighting ceremony began in 1931 with Governor James Rolph. He rearranged his main office located at that time in the west wing of the Capitol to accommodate a large, decorated tree central to a gift exchange among staff. This informal tradition continued with the next 6 governors. In 1951, the Governor’s office moved to the East Annex as did the holiday tree lighting ceremony.
Last modified: December 8, 2025