- April 19, 2024
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Kids play in the "snow" in front of the crowd at the Holidays at the Casements celebration. Photo by Michele Meyers
Randy Euson checks out Santa's magic red light with Mrs. Claus during the Holidays at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Volunteers decorated the house for weeks prior to the Holidays at the Casements celebration. Photo by Michele Meyers
This is the first time Denise Consolo and Linda Gruber have attended the Holidays at the Casements event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Holidays at the Casements is a visual celebration of the holidays. Photo by Michele Meyers
Traditionally worn historical, holiday dresses and decorated Christmas trees are on display at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Casement Guild decorated the house for weeks before the holiday celebrations were held at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Holidays at the Casements gave people a chance to tour the second floor rooms during the event. Photo by Michele Meyers
Casement Guild docent Susan Hansen has been informing people about the the house for seven years. Photo by Michele Meyers
Leo Barreto, Chandler Klepper, Ezra Williams and Brad Coffman hang out in Santa's chair at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mr. and Mrs. Claus greet everyone during Holiday at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters take a pause between songs at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
Willow Harvey tells Santa and Mrs. Claus her Christmas wish list. Photo by Michele Meyers
The trombone player for the Moonlighters focuses on his sheet music as they play holiday favorites. Photo by Michele Meyers
Welcoming entryways are decked in holiday decor at the Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters entertain the crowd during the Holidays at the Casements event. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Moonlighters, Daytona Beach’s big band led by Joe Mirante, played “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” to a large crowd as Mr. and Mrs. Claus strolled onto Rockefeller Gardens' north lawn during the Holidays at The Casements celebration on Thursday, Dec. 16.
The city of Ormond Beach's Department of Leisure Services has been hosting the event for 15 years in collaboration with The Casements Guild. Susan Hansen, a docent of the Guild, was on-hand to give tours and answer questions about the historic house during the event. She has been part of the Guild for seven years and just finished her tenure as president of the organization. She turned over the reins to Linda Powell this year.
“I have passion for the house,” Hansen said. "It’s not just the house, it’s the neighborhood. We really like to be the ambassadors for the neighborhood.”
The symbiotic relationship between Leisure Services and The Casements Guild has propelled the site to the forefront of interest amongst locals and visitors alike.
“It is the best,” Hansen said. “I’ve worked for the government for years. This is the first government-volunteer relationship that is not only collaborative, but we are friends. We visit each other. We know what’s going on in each other’s families, who’s having babies and who is doing this or that.”
People were invited to tour The Casements at 6 p.m., then have a seat outside as they helped themselves to holiday goodie boxes and beverages. The Moonlighters continued to play holiday favorites throughout the night as children recited a list of requests and adults had their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the gazebo.
“I am a 21-year Ormond Beach resident and have never been to The Casements for this Christmas event,” Linda Gruber said. “I’ve gone to the summer concerts but now I’m going to make a point of going to Casement events.”
