Office of Governor Tony Evers *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:* December 23, 2025 Contact: [email protected]    *Gov. Evers, First Lady Host Virtual Tour of 2025 Holiday Decorations at the Wisconsin Executive Residence *   MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers today shared their annual virtual tour of the 2025 holiday decorations at the Wisconsin Executive Residence to highlight and thank local businesses, organizations, and volunteers for their help in making the Residence festive this holiday season.

“Each year, volunteers and organizations from across the state take time out of their busy holiday schedules to help us decorate for the holidays for visitors and guests to enjoy,” said Gov. Evers. “Kathy and I are so excited to share these decorations with you and extend our thanks to the wonderful communities, people, businesses, and nonprofits who make it all possible.”

The virtual tour of the Executive Residence with the governor and first lady is available here [ [link removed] ]. 

Gov. Evers, First Lady Host Virtual Tour of 2025 Holiday Decorations at the Wisconsin Executive Residence  [ [link removed] ]

The Executive Residence’s holiday displays and decorations offer a glimpse into the lives of Wisconsinites and the traditions and celebrations that Wisconsin communities hold dear. Featured throughout the Residence are holiday displays from businesses and local community organizations across Wisconsin. This year, the Residence’s outdoor holiday tree was donated by Dave and Mary Vander Velden, the retired owners of Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Oconto County. Dave and Mary Vander Velden also donated the holiday tree currently on display at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

“Knowing we gifted a real tree to the citizens of Wisconsin to enjoy and beautify the Governor’s residence makes our holiday season complete,” said Dave Vander Velden.

On display in front of the Residence are wreaths donated by 4 Mile Tree Farm in Oconomowoc and Ottman Tree Farms in Belleville, co-grand champions of the 2025 Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association annual Wreath Contest.

“We sincerely thank the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association for the opportunity to be part of this special tradition,” Angela Schaefer, owner at 4 Mile Tree Farm. “Their support makes moments like this possible, and we are honored to have our wreaths featured at the Governor’s Residence for the third time.”

“It is an honor for Ottman Tree Farms and Newby Evergreens to keep an 80-year generational Christmas tree producing tradition alive and be able to donate our wreaths to the Governor’s residence,” said Becky Sniegowski of Ottman Tree Farms.

Upon entering the Residence, guests are greeted in the foyer by a special display from the Ice Age Trail Alliance inspired by the children’s book, “The Mitten.” The icy, frozen forest theme display highlights the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, featuring a snowy trail with trees dripping in icicle lights and adorned with figurines of woodland creatures.

The literary inspiration continues in the library, where visitors will find an ode to a book character enjoyed by kids and adults alike—the Grinch. This room is decorated with colorful lights, giant candy canes, and decorations that look straight out of Whoville by the team of docents at the Executive Residence. Additionally, outside the library is the first lady’s annual Book Tree. Every year, First Lady Evers partners with the Madison Reading Project to host a book drive, encouraging all visitors and guests to the Residence during the holiday season to bring a new book to be donated. The Madison Reading Project serves thousands of families, schools, and community organizations by providing free books and literacy programs to help ignite the love of reading.

In the powder room, visitors will find a display of American Girl Dolls dressed in garments that showcase the many diverse and beautiful cultural celebrations families across Wisconsin celebrate each year, including Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Lunar New Year, and Dia de Muertos. American Girl was founded in Middleton in 1986, and this room was decorated by the Friends of the Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation. 

This year, the sunroom was decorated by The Hmong Institute in celebration of the Hmong New Year, which is celebrated by Hmong families and communities from late October through December. Many of the decorations in this room were handcrafted by Hmong elders and include a Hmong New Year Story Cloth that features scenes from a Hmong New Year celebration, as well as handmade ornaments, traditional Hmong skirts, household items crafted from bamboo, and a Qeej—a traditional Hmong instrument.

In recognition of the new year season and the contributions of Hmong Wisconsinites to the historical, cultural, and economic fabric of the state, Gov. Evers proclaimed September–December 2025, as the “Hmong New Year Season” in Wisconsin. The governor’s proclamation is available here [ [link removed] ]. Earlier this year, the governor also recognized that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Vietnam War, the Secret War in Laos, and the Fall of Phnom Penh in Cambodia in 1975, conflicts that significantly impacted the lives of millions in Southeast Asia, including many Hmong Americans. The governor’s proclamation honoring the resilience of Southeast Asian American communities and the 50th anniversary of the Hmong and Southeast Asian diaspora is available here [ [link removed] ].  

Each year, the governor and first lady also decorate one room at the Residence in honor of the more than 7 million Americans and more than 100,000 Wisconsinites living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and the countless caregivers who provide them care. This year’s display was decorated by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Vista West, a senior living community in Madison, and the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, and is in the Drawing Room. The decorations feature the Ten Healthy Habits for Brain Health and Risk Reduction [ [link removed] ], highlighting the importance of exercise, good nutrition, and cognitive stimulation for long-term brain health.  

In the reception room, visitors will find the Tribute to our Troops Tree, which is an annual tradition at the Executive Residence that is celebrating its 20th year in 2025. This tree honors service members who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The tree is decorated with patriotic red, white, and blue colors and ornaments representing each major branch of the military, in addition to ornaments sent in by families honoring their loved ones. Camouflage quilts under the tree provided by the Camo Quilt Project represent different military branches. The reception room also features two other trees that tell the story of the Wisconsin Blue Star Mothers of America and their loved ones. One tree represents the mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, and caregivers with children and grandchildren who are currently serving or have been honorably discharged. Additional decorations this year were provided by a surviving spouse and spouses of current pilots of the 176th Fighter Squadron, 115th Fighter Wing.   

Finally, in the dining room, visitors will find a display of train sets from the Wisconsin Garden Railway Society, set up by volunteers on the buffet, under the tree, and along the mantel. The dioramas on display were made by Wisconsin kids for a contest under the guidance of club members from the National Model Railroad Association South Central Wisconsin Division.  

Featured at the Wisconsin State Capitol this year is a 30-foot balsam fir decorated with handmade ornaments from kids, students, and families from every corner of the state. The 2025 Capitol Holiday Tree theme, “The Learning Tree,” honors Wisconsin’s educators, child care providers, administrators, custodians, school bus drivers, counselors, librarians, school staff, tutors, mentors, after-school program teachers, and all the heroes in kids’ lives who help them learn and support, educate, empower, and inspire them. Gov. Evers, who began the year declaring 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, has spent his entire career fighting for Wisconsin’s kids and K-12 public schools, first beginning as a science teacher and going on to become a principal, superintendent, and state superintendent before becoming governor.

The 2025 State Capitol Holiday Tree will be on display through the end of the year for members of the public and visitors to enjoy as they visit the Wisconsin State Capitol building.      An online version of this release is available here [ [link removed] ]. ###

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