Holiday Hospitality
Gov. Sean Parnell to host open house today at mansion
Does Gov. Sean Parnell believe in Santa Claus?
Back
From the colorful stockings hanging from the chimney at the Governor's Mansion - bearing the names Rachel, Sandy, Sean, and Grace - it appears he does expect a visitor Christmas Eve. In the meantime plenty of other people will be stopping by.
Alaska's first family will open the doors to their Juneau home at 716 Calhoun Avenue to greet the public from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. today during the annual Governors' Christmas Open House.
"I personally start planning for this by the end of August," said Erika Fagerstrom, Parnell's executive residence manager who also is assistant to the first lady. "I start calling entertainers and people who usually perform here, a solid core group of performers."
Among performers will be the Juneau-Douglas High School Brass Instrumental Ensemble with director Ken Guiher, Faith Community Christian School Choir, Alaskan Youth Choir, The Victorian Carolers, and Glacier Valley Messengers.
"And Jeff Brown will do some things for people standing outside," Fagerstrom said. "My first year, the line of people wrapped clear around the house to the back of the garage."
When guests enter the mansion they will greet the Parnell and first lady Sandy Parnell in the main hall.
Next stop will be the dining room, laden with treats. Two tall toy soldiers guard the entry sides. More than 20,000 bite-sized cookies and treats from Abby's Kitchen & Catering, 200 pounds of Alaska Fudge Company sweetness, and nuts and dried fruit will be available. Ginger bread houses made by Jody Buck's Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School life skills classes line the dining room window area.
Next is the Conservatory area and a lighted miniature of a winter wonderland scene. The library features ornaments for sale and punch and hot cider to sip. The last stop is the ballroom, which will feature the performance groups. Decorating nuances such as hand-strung popcorn, Nutcracker dolls, pine wreaths and garlands are lavished throughout. Mansion staff will try to keep a traffic pattern flowing through the house and minimize the discomfort of standing outside to just 20 minutes.
"We want people to graciously move through the house," Fagerstrom said. "It really isn't a reception where you come and sit, there just isn't enough space. We hope people get to spend some time graciously enjoying the governor and the mansion's Christmas decor."
Work on the decorations started Nov. 13. The Capital City Republican Women swathed the house décor and Ginger Johnson led a small detail group after.
"It really is a labor of love they do for the house," Fagerstrom said. "It is all volunteer."
Parnell and his family began moving into the mansion this month.
"They are completing their move here mid-December," Fagerstrom said. "They are moving into the house ... not just for session, they are moving into the house and it will be their main residence. They have a real Alaskan, locally harvested tree upstairs in their family room, which they will decorate with personal family ornaments."
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.