Sturdivant Hall was decked out in Christmas decorations Thursday night for its annual members gala.

From a Christmas tree covered in ornaments to wreaths, holly and other greenery, the museum was a beautiful sight and a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.

“Wonderful, talented ladies give of their time and talents all day yesterday and today decorating Sturdivant Hall,” said Sturdivant Hall director Mary Hansell. “We just want to show Sturdivant Hall off for its beauty and what it looks like when it’s all decorated during the holiday season.”

The gala is intended to give members a sneak peak at the museum’s Christmas decorations before the public was allowed access on Friday and Saturday during the annual free open house.

Members of the museum walked around and took in the holiday décor, which is made up of only natural components. One of the main stipulations for those that decorate the rooms is to stay away from artificial or permanent items.

“Most of the things we like to be more natural, either from nature or things like fruit, berries, greenery, florals — anything that grows is what we prefer,” said Margie Burk, who oversees the museum’s decorating committee.

Each room is decorated by a different person or club, allowing them to get creative and see their idea come to life. Burk said she enjoys watching all of the different ideas turn into reality.

“People actually come in and get ideas and go home with the ideas they see to decorate their homes with,” Hansell said.

To keep with the theme of the museum, each room is also decorated closely to what it might’ve looked like years ago. Burk said that’s one component that makes all of the decorations extra special.

“I think it’s really neat that the house is done as close as we think it would’ve been done back in its era, which makes it kind of like stepping back in time,” Burk said.

The decorators start transforming their rooms the day before the gala. The whole process usually takes around six hours, although some may start a day early or come back to finish on the day of the gala.

Many on hand Thursday undoubtedly look at the annual gala as an unofficial start to the Christmas season.

“This feels like the kickoff,” Hansell said.