Governor’s Residence open house goes virtual
The time-honored holiday tradition of opening up the Governor’s Residence to the public has gone virtual this year as Gov. Ned Lamont weighs the dangers of the lengthy COVID-19 pandemic.
In a six-minute video released Sunday evening, Lamont and his wife, Annie, offer a tour around the historic Hartford mansion, decked out for the holidays. The tour offers a glimpse into the longtime home for Connecticut’s top elected official, and even features Lamont playing a bit of piano.
“Happy holidays. Come on in, it’s a little different than yesteryear,” Lamont says to open the tour.
The governor said normally thousands of people tour the home during the holidays, but given guidance from federal and state public health officials, the Lamonts opted to hold this year’s open house virtually.
“One of the best parts of the Christmas season for our family is sharing in the festivities with everyone, and that is why it pains us to not have the open house in-person this year, but it is the right and safe thing to do,” Lamont said, in a written statement. “Like nearly every other event that’s happening this year, we decided to make the open house virtual and film a video to share greetings with everyone in Connecticut. Wewish everyone a great and healthy season, and can’t wait until things are able to get back to normal so we can enjoy the festivities with everyone.”
Lamont’s office said all the decorations in the house were privately donated and came at no cost to the state. The trees, they said, were from Jones Family Farm, while the wreaths, greenery and plants were donated by the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association and the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association.
The video was also produced at no cost to the state by Emmy Award-winning producer Alison Kenworthy and her company, Homeworthy Productions.
The home, at 990 Prospect Ave., has served as the Connecticut governor’s official residence since 1943, and for the last three decades has been opened to residents for tours during the holidays.