Virginia capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony canceled due to Speilberg’s Lincoln

If you live in Richmond, Virginia and have made it a tradition to enjoy the Christmas tree at the Capitol being lit, well then you are out of luck. This year there will be no lighting ceremony…now if you are thinking budget cuts, think again, the ceremony has been canceled due to the new Steven Speilberg flick shooting on location at the capitol.

According to  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Spielberg is filming his new movie Lincoln at the capitol. He further adds, “I just know that as part of the agreement between the Commonwealth and DreamWorks productions that we had to keep several venues in and around Richmond reserved for them up through, I believe, December 10.”

Even though the lighting ceremony was canceled, there will still be a lit Christmas tree on display at the Capitol.

The Lincoln movie is being filmed in Petersburg and Richmond, including the state Capitol and Executive Mansion, the nation’s oldest continuously used governor’s mansion.

The movie is pegged for a 2012 release, we will keep you updated when we know more.

Update: The lighting ceremony was rescheduled for Dec. 20.