- April 15, 2024
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About 500 residents attended the annual Holidays at The Casements event Thursday night.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
Mom and Dad snapped a photo of little Jack Becker, 7, and his sister Vivienne, 3, as they whispered their Christmas wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Claus. A long line of eager children formed, waiting to do the same.
The eighth-annual Holidays at the Casements included many similar Kodak moments, like families dancing to holiday music performed by The Moonlighters Orchestra and children playing in the "snow-covered" front lawn of the mansion.
Some holiday surprises accompanied the music, too. During band conductor Joseph Mirante and his daughter Laura's duet of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," Santa and Mrs. Claus made their debut to walk among the crowd.
It was Ron and Yvette Hilburn's first time attending the event, and they say it definitely put them in the Christmas spirit.
"We found out about it from our neighbor," Ron Hilburn said. "I think its really nice. I love this music."
Their neighbor, Rita Lehmann, said she used to come to the event every year with her husband, until his death.
"Now I come alone," she said, " because I love the music, and I love to dance."
The free event was hosted by Ormond Beach Leisure Services and Community Events Coordinator Mike Demchak, who said that about 500 people attended.
"It's just a great gift to the community," Demchak said. "The holiday music, the desserts: It gets everybody out to celebrate Christmas."
