Holiday Tree Gala

The Library Foundation’s annual Holiday Tree Gala is transforming in its 31st year, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone aboard!

This year’s special event highlighting the wonderful organizations in Hancock County that contribute to the success of the community and our library system will be open to the public with a suggested donation of $25 (or entry of a decorated tree to the judging contest!).

Join us in celebrating with food, drinks, and merriment on December 6, 2025, at the Bay St. Louis branch from 5:00-7:00 pm. Holiday cocktail wear is encouraged.

Your ticket/donation supports the Library Foundation of Hancock County. Individuals who have donated to the Foundation in the past year are welcome to the Gala without an additional entry fee.

We’re counting down the days until we can see you aglow among our magical forest of holiday trees.

Enter a Tree

Businesses, non-profit organizations, and civic groups may enter a tree to be seen by all of Hancock County through the month of December and voted on by our esteemed judges. You must provide your own tree and decorations.

This year’s theme is, “Y’all Aboard for a Magical Celebration!”

Businesses and organizations can set up and decorate their trees from Monday, November 17 through Thursday, December 4, 2025. Judging will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Contact your local library branch (Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead, Kiln, Pearlington, or Waveland) if you have questions about participating in the holiday tree decorating event.

2024 Winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

  • Overall Winner and 1st Place Waveland - Sea Gypseas Antiques

  • 1st Place Bay St. Louis - M.A.P. Kids

  • 2nd Place Bay St. Louis - Sea Coast Echo

  • 3rd Place Bay St. Louis - Esperanza Club

  • 2nd Place Waveland - Ashman-Mollere Realty

  • 3rd Place Waveland - Bay High School Exceptional Students

  • 1st Place East Hancock - Diamondhead Garden Club

  • 2nd Place East Hancock - Diamondhead Art Group

  • 3rd Place East Hancock - Dragon Ladies

  • 1st Place Kiln - It's Sew Easy

  • 2nd Place Kiln - Precision Machinery, HCCTC

  • 3rd Place Kiln - Friends of the Animal Shelter

  • 1st Place Pearlington - Native Noel

  • 2nd Place Pearlington - Susie Sharp Stained Glass

  • 3rd Place Pearlington - Alpek Polyester

Bay St. Louis Trees

  • #1 - The Library Foundation of Hancock County

  • #2 - The Arts, Hancock County

  • #3 - Sea Coast Echo

  • #4 - Brdecka Family Tree

  • #5 - Krewe of Nereids

  • #6 - First Baptist Church, Children's Ministry

  • #7 - Dunbar Village

  • #8 - Bay St. Louis Library, Refrence Desk

  • #9 - Dr. Tuminello, DDS

  • #10 - Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse

  • #11 - Esparanza Club

  • #12 - Full Moon Clockworks

  • #13 - TOPS

  • #14 - Santa

  • #15 - CASA of South Mississippi

  • #16 - B&J Pit Stop

  • #17 - Rotary Club of Bay St. Louis

  • #18 - Elizabeth Veglia Arts

  • #19 - Meranto Construction

  • #20 - Elvis

  • #21 - Fassbender Insurance

  • #22 - Hancock Resource Center

  • #23 - Bay St. Louis Library Elves

  • #24 - Navigator Real Estate

  • #25 - Bay St. Louis Library, Youth Services

  • #26 - Pac Man & Friends

  • #27 - The Georgia and Comelia Foundation

  • #28 - Bay St. Louis Library, Children's Room

  • #29 - Excel by 5

  • #30 - Mockingbird Cafe

  • #31 - M.A.P. Kids

  • #32 - Bay Waveland Garden Club

  • #33 - Bay St. Louis Library, Circulation Staff

  • #34 - HCLS Admin

  • #35 - Ochsner

  • #36 - Hancock County Tourism

  • #37 - Bay St. Louis Library, Youth Services

East Hancock Trees

  • #1 - Diamondhead Art Group

  • #2 - Mahjong Dragon Ladies

  • #3 - Woodland Village Memory Care

  • #5 - Literary Society of Diamondhead Book Club

  • #6 - Rouses Supermarket

  • #7 - Aloha Book Club

  • #8 - Diamondhead School of Fine Arts

  • #9 - Diamondhead Garden Club

  • #10 - Marina Shipstore

  • #11 - East Hancock Library Staff & Volunteers

  • #12 - Crafty Chicks

  • #13 - Diamondhead Senior Village

  • #14 - Visiting Pet Teams of South MS

  • #15 - City of Diamondhead

  • #16 - Davenport-Whitman Family

Waveland Trees

  • #1 - Excel by 5

  • #2 - Waveland Library, Youth Services

  • #3 - Waveland Ground Zero

  • #4 - Walmart

  • #5 - Exit Bay Realty

  • #6 - MC Conveyors and Maintenance

  • #7 - Cloud 9 Notary & Mobile Services

  • #8 - The Bird Nest

  • #9 - Candle La Di Da

  • #10 - Ashman-Mollere Real Estate

  • #11 - Coast Reliable Insurance

  • #12 - Hope Haven

  • #13 - Sea Gypseas Antiques

  • #14 - Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County

  • #15 - Eclectic Bean Shop

  • #16 - Wish List Flea Market

  • #17 - Hancock Relay for Life

  • #18 - Bay High School Exceptional Students

  • #19 - TOPS Club

  • #20 - Waveland Book Club

  • #21 - People's Bank

  • #22 - Alderman Bobby Richardson

  • #23 - Clay Creations

  • #24 - St. Clare Catholic Church

  • #25 - Ochsner Medical Center

  • #26 - Waveland Library Staff

  • #27 - Fab, Fit, & Fun Exercise Class

  • #28 - Waveland United Methodist Church

  • #29 - Hancock Health Foundation

  • #30 - Girl Scout Troup 4630

  • #31 - C & F Construction

  • #32 - Ramsey's Lawncare & More

  • #33 - Creative Canvas Preschool

  • #34 - Rob's Rum Kitchen

Kiln Trees

  • #1 - Mary Harris, Dept. 56 Santa Village

  • #2 - Club Wednesday

  • #3 - Crafts & Conversations

  • #4 - FNB Picayune Bank, Kiln Branch

  • #5 - Kiln Volunteer Fire Department

  • #6 - Bay Oaks Quilt Guild

  • # 7 - 603 Flea Market

  • #8 - Kiln Pharmacy

  • #9 - Hancock County 4-H

  • #10 - Second Friday Book Club

  • #11 - Kiln Flower Shop

  • #12 - Education Prep, HCCTC

  • #13 - Early Childhood Education, HCCTC

  • #14 - Hancock County School District

  • #15 - It's Sew Easy

  • #16 - Health Science, HCCTC

  • #17 - Precision Machining, HCCTC

  • #19 - Hydrography, HCCTC

  • #20 - Engineering, HCCTC

  • #21 - Welding, HCCTC

  • #22 - Work Based Learning, HCCTC

  • #23 - Automotive, HCCTC

  • #24 - Dempsey's

  • #25 - Kiln Library

  • #26 - Coastal Hardware

  • #27 - Farm Bureau Insurance

  • #28 - Excel by 5

  • #29 - Coast Electric Power Association

  • #30 - Kiln Children's Library

  • #31 - Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County

  • #32 - Lady Claus, Kiln Circulation

  • #33 - Crosby's Furniture

  • #34 - Tami Munsch, Attorney at Law

Pearlington Trees

  • #1 - Brent Anderson, State Representative District 122

  • #2 - Robin Burns

  • #3 - Pearlington Library

  • #4 - Port and Harbor Commission

  • #5 - Native Noel, Jennifer Crowe

  • #6 - Tristan Warren

  • #7 - TOPS

  • #8 - Camellia City Pizza (Slidell, LA)

  • #9 - RLP

  • #10 - SRP

  • #11 - Woodforest National Bank

  • #12 - The Blood Center

  • #13 - First Southern Baptist Church

  • #14 - Turtle Landing

  • #15 - Tater Graham, Constable District 3

  • #16 - Infinity Science Center

  • #17 - Kylee Roberts

  • #18 - Susie Sharp

  • #19 - Pearlington Post Office

  • #20 TRP

  • #21 - Evan Coote

  • #22 - Pearlington Impact Association

  • #23 - Tiffany Cowan, Chancery Clerk

  • #24 - Alpek Polyester

  • #25 - Polychemie

  • #26 - Shelby Cooley

  • #27 - Junior Auxiliary of Hancock County

  • #28 - Greater Mt. Zion

  • #29 - South Hancock Elementary

  • #30 - Pearlington Library Storytime

  • #31 - Hancock County Child Development

  • #32 - Pearlington Library Community Garden

  • #33 - Donald Graham

  • #34 - Incleanations

  • #35 - Excel by 5

Sponsors

HCLS is able to provide programs and activities thanks to the generous support of The Library Foundation of Hancock County.

Thank you to:

If you would like to make a donation or become a sponsoring partner, please contact us at info@hancock.lib.ms.us

All press inquiries may be directed to Kevin Cole, PR/Marketing coordinator at kcole@hancock.lib.ms.us or 228.467.6836