CNN
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The White House was spruced up and transformed into a gilded winter wonderland after more than 300 volunteers and residence staff spent the holiday weekend decking the halls for the final time under the Biden administration.

The theme of this year’s decorations, the first lady’s office announced Monday, is a “season of peace and light” based on the spirit of the holidays – and the decorations are closely aligned with the theme, with thousands of sparkling ones Lights and floating paper doves.

“The holidays have always held a special place in our hearts and we have loved opening the doors of the People’s House wider and wider each year, continuing the spirit of goodwill and gratitude,” President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden wrote a welcome letter to visitors.

They continued: “Each year during the holidays, Americans come together in community and faith, reminding us that we are stronger as a community than apart.” The strength of our country and the soul of our nation come from you. May the promise of this “Time of Peace and Light” guide your path forward.”

The White House welcomes approximately 100,000 visitors each holiday season to tour the holiday exhibits from the East Wing to the Library, the Vermeil Room, the China Room, the Diplomatic Reception Room and more.

Visitors will walk through the East Colonnade, which is filled with hanging brass bells tied with red ribbons, view a “forest of vintage ceramic Christmas trees” rotating on tree-shaped platforms in the library, and a “reflective canopy.” Shiny confetti in the East Room, and see the official White House Christmas tree decorated as a whimsical moving carousel in the Blue Room.

The Green Room features sparkling jewel tones and metallic pipe cleaner decorations. And in the state dining room, festive curtains made of long, curled paper ribbons. Nest candles with a Christmas scent are hidden throughout the tour.

Last week, Jill Biden welcomed this year’s official tree from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in North Carolina. The tree survived Hurricane Helene, while thousands of trees on the family farm did not.

According to the first lady’s office, this year’s decorations include 83 Christmas trees, approximately 9,810 feet of ribbon, over 28,125 ornaments, over 2,200 paper doves and over 165,075 twinkling Christmas lights.

And the annual White House-inspired gingerbread house is a feat of baking and engineering: It was built from “25 sheets of gingerbread dough, 10 sheets of sugar cookie dough, 65 pounds of pastillage, 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing, and 10 pounds of gum paste,” said her office. Mechanized figures glide over a lake lying on the glaze.

The volunteers, led by event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who chaired several state dinners during Biden’s term, worked around the clock to put up the decorations as the first family traveled to Nantucket for Thanksgiving.

Jill Biden will welcome National Guard families to be the first to view the decorations later Monday.