Christmasfest Light Decorating Challenge winners announced
Article content
Did you notice more Christmas lights in Tillsonburg this year?
Entries in the fourth annual Christmasfest Light Decorating Challenge almost doubled, said Christmasfest chair Suzanne Fleet.
"A lot of first-time applicants as well," noted Christmasfest committee member Dave Morris.
"I think when people drive around to look at the lights, it does put them in the Christmas spirit," he added.
"It doesn't have to be over the top – we're just trying to make it a community-wide project," said Fleet.
The three-week contest, sponsored by Tillsonburg Hydro Inc. and Crompton Home Hardware, concluded last week with judging in eight categories. Awards were presented Sunday afternoon at Annandale National Historic Site.
"I was around three times, but I escorted the judges on Friday night," said Christmasfest committee member Elaine Balpataky, presenting the Light Decorating Challenge awards with Morris and Fleet.
"I know some of you have participated in other years, and it's great because what we want to do is light up our town," said Balpataky. "And you are helping that effort."
The 2014 winners were:
Best First-Time Entry – Stan Dawson, 24 Glenridge
Best Use of Music With Lights – Jennifer Bakker, 7 William Street
Best Display With Religious Theme – Harvey E. James, 10 Pine Street
Best Use of Christmas Characters/Symbols – Craig and Michelle Harwood, 18 Clear Valley Drive
Best Use of Clark Griswold/Over-the-top Decorations – (tie) Connor Hadaway, 21 Alexander Avenue, and Joe Puhr, 10 Catalpa Court
Best Decorated Commercial Building – Gibson, Bennett, Groom and Szorenyi, 36 Broadway
Best Decorated Commercial Window Display – Trinkets Gift Shoppe, 148 Broadway
Best Multi-Family Building – Ryan Pettit, 195 Lisgar Avenue
The Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) category was the only one with two winners.
"We ended up with a tie for this," said Balpataky. "We couldn't make a decision, but because we had a (ninth) category with no entries, we were able to award two prizes for this one."
Third time was a charm for Connor Hadaway who has entered theChristmas light decorating contest three times since moving to Alexander Avenue.
"This was the first time winning," he nodded.
Hadaway's display includes Christmas characters – Santa, Frosty, Rudolph – a full-size sleigh, a few reindeer, and a Christmas tree.
"The whole house is lit up – all the windows, the bushes, and one of the trees too. It's a lot of 'this' and a lot of 'that' I guess. All my decorations are big homemade wooden decorations. My dad made them all – some are 20-plus years old, too."
Hadaway said he wasn't aiming to recreate a Griswold display, but he does try to add a little more every year.
"As big as I can get it," he smiled.
He already has a new idea for next year.
"I think it was in Hamilton, I saw a ladder with three elves on it. I want to try that next year. If I see something I like that I don't have, then I want to try that."
Hadaway said their Christmas decorations will stay up until New Year's Day, for sure.
"Then if we get a nice day they will come down. It's weather dependent."