- December 17, 2025
Bailey Sparkman, 5, Alycia Hether Addison Whiting, 2, and Harley Whiting (Photos by Emily Blackwood)
A band played holiday music out on the front lawn.
Comissioner Troy Kent, his son, Wyatt Kent, and his wife, Heather Kent.
Emma Tiplady, 11
Howard Carter took a photo of his wife, Sharon Carter.
Crowds gathered to look at The Casements Christmas tree.
Maria Smyth and Alana Karas slowly walked down the row of holiday desserts, eyeing and pointing at every Christmas brownie, peppermint bark, and Santa Claus cookie they saw. Every treat was enticing, but only one took the cake. And it was, well, cake.
"We gotta ask mom first," Maria Smyth said her fellow 9-year-old, who nodded in agreement. Hopefully, mom said yes.
The Baked Goods room was easily one of the most crowded rooms in The Casements during the kick off Friday night for their annual 38th-annual Christmas Gala at The Casements weekend event.
Festivities included a tree lighting, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, an ice cream sundae bar, holiday entertainment, a gift shop, a tree gallery, a craft shop, treasure trove, and a train. The event is held by The Casements Guild in an effort to carry on the Christmas tradition started by John D. Rockefeller.
"To me," said Guild member Mary Stevenson, "Friday is always the most magical night at The Casements. It just is."
