Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom will host the 88th annual California State Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The celebration, which is an annual tradition dating back to the early 1930s, is open to the public, and this year will highlight California’s cultural diversity, native heritage and spirit of inclusion.

“The holiday season is a very special time, and this year, we want to celebrate California’s rich history, people, cultures, backgrounds and religious beliefs, which give our state its unique and enviable identity,” said Gov. Newsom. “We are honored to continue this tradition of bringing people together.”

“The holidays are a time for family, for community, and for giving back,” said First Partner Siebel Newsom. “As we celebrate together with our loved ones, we are reminded of the beauty of our diverse communities and grateful for our extended California Family.”

The governor and the first partner will light the Capitol Christmas tree with special guest Nayeli Lemus.

The 10-year-old from Gilroy was selected by the California Department of Developmental Services and the San Andreas Regional Center, and will represent the more than 340,000 Californians who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Lemus, a fourth grader at Charter School of Morgan Hill, loves singing, dancing, music, and art, and enjoys spending time with her parents Angel and Rosalinda, and 2-year-old sister Naia.

Additionally, California Volunteers is partnering with the Sacramento Children’s Home to place a giving tree at the Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The giving tree will be decorated with Wish Stars for attendees to take and fulfill the holiday wishes of local children in need. Wish Stars detail the specific gift requests of children at the home. Attendees will also be able to make monetary donations directly to the Home at the event.

Performers for this year’s celebrations will include the Paradise Strong Chorus from Paradise Ridge Elementary School, Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dancers, the Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps, the Sacramento Taiko Dan, the Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento, the Kalinka Russian Folk Dance Group, bbmoves, the KEEN Khmer Ballet of Stockton, the Korean Culture Center Urisawe, the Palestinian Dabke Dancers, Hmong Youth & Parents United, Silver Flower, the Lao Association of Sacramento Group, Dream Dance Studios, Wild Bear Sacramento Pow Wow Drum & Dance and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. This year’s announcer will be Ebony Harper.

This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree is a 66 foot tall white fir from the LaTour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in Shasta County, which is managed by Cal Fire.

The tree will be illuminated by approximately 10,000 ultra-low wattage LED lights and is being decorated with more than 300 traditional ornaments and more than 500 hand-crafted ornaments made by children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The event will be livestreamed beginning at 5 p.m. on the California Governor Facebook page.