Douglas Hanks Jr. – Oxford real estate broker, author, sailor, carver and acknowledged “unofficial mayor” because of his participation in so many community activities –started the Oxford holiday tradition of Holiday Trees on Town Creek in 1995.

To welcome his stepdaughter, Betsy, home from a year of travel, he wanted to add more light to the creek, which already featured the lighted Yankee Peddler, anchored each year near the causeway. Several neighbors assisted him by constructing, installing, and lighting more than a dozen trees on the nearby docks. The plan worked spectacularly. Betsy was surprised and impressed with the light display. From that first season, the Oxford Dock Trees tradition has grown to trees of brilliant white lights winding around the entire Town Creek.

Each tree is hand-crafted by local resident volunteers. The lighted trees at night are a fabulous illusion. By day, they are almost invisible – just a simple skeleton of a 10’ PVC pipe with notches at the top, a 4’x4’ plywood base with a support for the pole and eight anchor hooks around the circumference. 400 white lights are wound from the top of the PVC pipe to each of the anchor hooks at the base, connected to an extension cord with a dusk-dawn switch, and plugged into the outlet designated by the homeowner.

“Neighbors helping out” continues to fuel the growth and brightness of this tradition.

  1. Volunteers gather in November to test and replace the lights strings, extension cords, timers, and tree components as needed.
  2. The first Saturday in December volunteers gather to assemble, deliver, and install a tree on each dock on Town Creek (and adjoining Cemetery Cove), then reverse the process in mid-January.
  3. Each homeowner that hosts a dock tree pays only for the electric costs as the trees are each plugged into their residential outlets.
  4. Residents contribute to the Hanks Tree Fund each year to enable replacement of materials – those who host Dock Trees and those who love seeing the trees throughout the holiday season.

In addition, members of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department, the staff of the Town of Oxford, MD, and U.S. Coast Guard from the Oxford Station all pitch in as well.

In 2025, more than 70 volunteers participate in the preparation, assembly, and installation of the trees. By giving their time and their service, the volunteers keep Doug Hank’s vision alive and this brilliant community tradition strong.

In 2025, 84 trees graced the creek, the largest number of trees ever!

If you would like to contribute funds, please send a check written to Town of Oxford with “Hanks Tree Fund” in the memo.

You may drop in the box at 101 Market Street at the Town Offices, or mail to Town of Oxford, P O Box 339, Oxford, MD 21654.

Origin story courtesy of the Oxford Museum.

Holiday Trees on Town Creek are now called Christmas on the Creek, and are the highlight of the month-long celebration each December.

Amazing video courtesy of The Digital Mind (info@ thedigitalmind.com):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3hF7SoXniY