The winners of downtown Jefferson City's holiday window-decorating contest have been announced, but you can enjoy the festive decor in the windows of every participating business as the Capital City hosts several Christmas events this weekend.
The winners of the window contest are:
Judges' Choice: American Shoe, first place; Saffees, second place; and High Handsome, third place.
People's Choice: Saffees, first place; Capitol City Cinema, second place; Tolson Drug, third place.
This year's contest theme was holiday movies. Several businesses - including Tolson Drug and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau - went with a "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" theme. Saffees opted for "The Polar Express," High Handsome with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and American Shoe touted "A fun old-fashioned Griswold Christmas" in the spirit of National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation."
Voting for the People's Choice window, as well as the judges' selection, took place on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28.
The festive windows set the scene for a packed weekend of holiday events in Jefferson City, including:
Downtown Living Windows from 6-9 p.m. today on High Street from Jefferson to Adams streets, where five blocks of businesses will open their window displays for singing and dancing performances.
Candlelight tours of the Governor's Mansion from 6:30-9 p.m. Friday and from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at 100 Madison St.
Jefferson City Jaycees Christmas Parade at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in downtown Jefferson City.
Christmas in the Garden from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Quigg Commons in North Jefferson City, which will feature Santa Claus, hot chocolate and a lighted garden.
Editor's Note: Those who attend Jefferson City's Living Windows event this evening can use the hashtag #JCMOwindows on Twitter and Instagram to see their posts and photos streamed on display downtown during the festivities.