Since 1985, Jefferson City's Christmas Home Decorating Contest has been an official way to recognize local residents for their hard work in helping make the season bright.
New categories have been created this year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the contest, sponsored by the News Tribune, the Parks and Recreation Department and Cottonstone Art Gallery and Frame Shop.
In recent years, businesses haven't been able to enter the contest. However, this year, businesses can once again compete for the "Best Business Lights Display Award."
Imagination is the only limit when it comes to decorating for the new categories. Teams of judges will select first- and second-place winners in each category, in each city ward. A second round of judging examines all first-place winners in each ward to determine one final champion in each category. The final champions will each receive the "Mayor's Award."
The new categories are:
• The "Clark Griswold Award" will honor the home with the most electrifying light display;
• The "Charlie Brown Award" will draw attention to a simple display that is packed with plenty of Christmas spirit;
• The "Norman Rockwell Award" was created to highlight an elegant, traditional, all-American holiday display;
• The "O Holy Night Award" challenges entrants to create the most outstanding nativity/religious display;
• The "TV Christmas Classics Award" requires entrants to include Christmas characters from favorite Christmas television specials and movies.
Entrants are judged on such things as: construction involved, originality, color coordination, how well the display fits the category in which it's entered and will the display convey the feeling of Christmas when it's viewed through the eyes of a child.
On Dec. 15, a "Tour of Lights Map" will be published in the News Tribune. It will list all entrants, where they are located and what category they have entered.
A "People's Choice Award" ballot will be printed on the map. Residents can choose their favorite display as they follow the map to view the displays. Residents can choose to be listed on the "Tour of Lights Map" without competing in the contest. They will be listed on the map as a non-competitor.
The deadline for entering the contest or being listed on the "Tour of Lights Map" is Dec. 11.
An entry form and contest rules page will be published in Wednesday's News Tribune and will be reprinted on various dates before the Dec. 11 deadline.