- December 10, 2025
Santa Claus takes photos with kids and their families at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by train at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by train at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
People watch as the The Casements lights up at the 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Nov. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
People take photos at the Christmas tree lighting during the 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Nov. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
City of Ormond Beach Parks and Recreation event assistants Jonathan Madden (left) and Jocelyn Petrie (right) man the hot cocoa bar at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
City of Ormond Beach Parks and Recreation event assistants Jonathan Madden (left) and Jocelyn Petrie (right) man the hot cocoa bar at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Eighteen-month-old Miles Roche (left) and his three-year-old brother Max (right) get some hot cocoa at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Three-year-old Max Roche (left), mom Karen Roche (center) and 18-month-old Miles Roche (right) start the festivities with some hot cocoa at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Three-year-old Max Roche (left) shows his best pose with his mom Karen Roche (center) and 18-month-old brother Miles Roche (right) at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Heather Gokey eats the cookie she decorated at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ella Lang (right) poses with mom Tiffany Lang (left) after she decorates a cookie at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jordan Ramasami (left), Victoria Clarke (center) and Ella Lang (right) pose in their holiday attire at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Barbara Hall (left) and Cindi Ballou (right) hang out with Marco (center) at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Teri (left) and Mike Chaves (right) enjoy a beautiful night at Rockefeller Gardens during The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters get ready to play while people wait for the Christmas tree lighting at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze AICE students help kids at the cookie decorating station at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Danielle Elston (right) walks with goddaughter Arden Ellzey (front left), City of Ormond Beach Public Information Officer Jenn Elston (second from right) and Owen Elston (left) at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Families and friends wait for the Christmas tree lighting at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Delane Malpass (left), Paul Ricci (center left), Gerry Amatucci (center right) and Debbie Amatucci (right) hang out before Paul and Gerry perform with The Moonlighters at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sebastian moves the face painter's arm to get his photo taken at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach residents Pat Sullivan (left), JoAnn Sullivan (center left), Vicki Zetrouer (center right) and John Zetrouer (right) hang out at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Families and friends gather for the festivities at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters perform at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
A group of children have fun with Santa and Mrs. Claus at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
People lineup at Reese's Weenies & More for a bite to eat at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Families ride the train at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters' band leader Dr. Joseph Meranti plays the trombone at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters' drummer Manny Simpson performs at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze students Ellison Kelso (left) and Sunshine Burke (right) help kids write letters to Santa Claus at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Santa Claus talks to one of the kids who waited in line to meet him at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The face painting tent is the most popular destination at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Santa Claus gives out candy canes at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Six-year-old Beachside Elementary student Cal Staton is overjoyed to see his friend Luke at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach residents Mark and Lori Spada enjoy a night out at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Palm Coast resident Macy McGinnis hangs a tag on the "Grounded in Gratitude" tree by Ora Yoga at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Odin Reign (left), Anevay Goodman(center left), Macy McGinnis (center right) and Maverick McGinnis (right) walk through the gallery of Christmas trees at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Community organizations and businesses contributed to the gallery of Christmas trees at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The "America 250!" tree was created by the Captain James Ormond Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for the gallery of Christmas trees at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The gallery of trees included creations (left to right) by the Environmental Discovery, The Casements Camera Club and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Associate guild member Jean Gregory welcomes people to the gallery of Christmas trees at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kids check out the gallery of Christmas trees at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sue Hansen (left) and Marilyn Kovach (right) give out the remainder of the sweet treats at The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Marilyn Kovach stands in front of the mantel she decorated for The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Marilyn Kovach sits in the area she decorated for The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze student Sig Lewis (center) stands with Rita Cronin (left) and Jonathan Booraem (right) at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The gift shop was surrounded by handmade crafts for purchase at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gala Chair Becky Panknin is pleased with the turnout for The Casements 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris and his wife Kendall enjoy the festivities with their kids Finley (left) and Tucker (right) along with their niece Baylor (center left) and nephew Decker (center front) at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze AICE students earn volunteer hours at the cookie decorating station at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze AICE students earn volunteer hours at the cookie decorating station at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala on Friday, Dec. 5. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Casements and Rockefeller Gardens bustled with sounds of the holidays as families and friends gathered for the 47th annual Christmas Gala: “A Crystal Christmas” on Friday, Dec. 5. The Casements Guild has organized and hosted the free community event each year.
Kids ran the grounds with their favorite characters painted on their faces. They decorated wreath cookies and slowed down just long enough to watch Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by train in front of the historic winter home of John D. Rockefeller.
The Moonlighters band leader, Dr. Joseph Mirante, did the Christmas light countdown, and the house and the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Gardens were illuminated with thousands of glimmering lights.
The Moonlighters played Christmas classics while people grabbed some eats at Reese’s Weenies & More and the Southern State of Mind food trucks.
Revelers could sip a cup of hot cocoa and ride the train around the gardens. At the Rockefeller Gardens stage, kids lined up to crawl on Santa’s lap and whisper Christmas lists in his ear while parents snapped photos.
... Watching the excitement in people’s eyes when they see the glitter of all the lights and the love, well, I just love it. It’s amazing. - JEAN GREGORY, associate Casements Guild member
Gala Chair Becky Panknin was pleased with the attendance.
“It was amazing,” Panknin said. “Everyone in the community showed up and supported us. Sometimes you could hardly get through the house which was wonderful. The weather cooperated and we really appreciate the support.”
Inside The Casements, the Gift Shoppe was surrounded by handmade crafts and Christmas decorations for purchase. Cookies, cakes and a myriad of other sweet treats covered a table that ran the length of the dining area.
Twenty Christmas trees, decorated by local organizations, graced a section of the lower floor of The Casements, including the “Grounded in Gratitude” tree by Ora Yoga, the “America 250!” tree created by the Captain James Ormond Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Ormond Beach Regional Library tree whose staff invited people to contribute by making ornaments out of book pages.
Associate guild member Jean Gregory welcomed gallery perusers in to see the Christmas trees and tell their origin stories.
Gregory was a guild member when she lived in Ormond Beach before moving back to her home in Tennessee. She returns every year for the Christmas Gala.
“It’s a loving, wonderful group of guild members that make you feel so loved and cared for,” she said. “We have fun together decorating for Christmas and also giving tours year round. We just love it. Watching the excitement in people’s eyes when they see the glitter of all the lights and the love, well, I just love it. It’s amazing."