Light up your homes, light up the community

TONAWANDA - If you are planning on decorating your home for the holidays, be sure to enter the third annual Winter-Holiday House Decorating Contest. It will be judged this year from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13.

Categories include “Mayors Award,” “Best use of Christmas Characters,” “Non-Traditional” and “Board Choice.” The awards will be given out at the Dec. 18 City of Tonawanda Council Meeting.

“We thought it was an event where the board could give back a little to the city and would be a great way to show how people decorate their homes for the holidays,” said Susan Gregg, chairperson for the City of Tonawanda Visual and Performing Arts.

Gregg said the saddest thing about the event is when they go out to judge and there are so many homes decorated that haven’t entered. She said if people have time to decorate their homes, she hopes they will take the time to enter so they can be awarded for their creativity and time.

“Last year, one of the girls wanted to award a really great house they saw but had not entered,” said Gregg. “I didn’t think that was fair because you aren’t seeing everyone who didn’t enter, just those near ones who did.”

Each year more and more people to enter, just like the garden walk, but Gregg would love to have an entire street or area lit up. Gregg said she remembers as a kid there always use to be great areas you could drive down that had great decorating.

“More and more people are decorating their homes and this event is bringing attention to it. If you take time to decorate, consider sharing it with the community,” said Gregg.

The application is available at Tonawanda City Hall, the Tonawanda Library, United Way building, the Tonawanda Senior Citizens Center and other local businesses. Applications are also available on the city’s website, www.ci.tonawanda.ny.us. Registration deadline is Dec. 11.

“It builds community spirit, it shows what a great community we have,” said Gregg. “People show off the pride people have in their homes and community.”