Registration open for Merry & Bright Holiday Home Challenge, Tour of Lights
COOKEVILLE – Let there be lights.
Registration is open for the third annual Merry and Bright Holiday Home Challenge presented by Cookeville Leisure Services and Upper Cumberland Association of REALTORS.
“This contest gives citizens who enjoy decorating their homes an opportunity to compete for cash prizes and be included in a Christmas Tour of Lights,” Mildred Garrett, Leisure Services recreation programmer, said. “People in the community who want to see all the lovely decorations will be able to pick up a map that lists all of the participating homes.”
The exterior decorating contest is open to single-family residences in Putnam County within a 10-mile radius of the Cookeville Courthouse Square. Categories include Most Colorful, Most Traditional and Most Animated. Participants may enter multiple categories but are eligible to win in only one. The fee is $10 per entry.
The registration deadline is Nov. 26. Forms are available at the Leisure Services office at Cookeville City Hall, 45 E. Broad St., and UCAR, 1330 Neal St. Registration may also be completed at www.cookeville-tn.gov/ls or by calling 931-520-4386.
The judging period will be Nov. 29-Dec. 5 between 5 and 10 p.m.
UCAR will be awarding a total of $500 in prize money – $100 for first place and $50 for second place in each category. Winners will be announced Dec. 6.
An additional $50 People’s Choice prize will be awarded in a social media contest consisting of photos of all Merry and Bright Holiday Home Challenge entries that will be taken by contest judges and posted on the Cookeville Leisure Services Department Facebook page Dec. 6. The photo with the most “likes” by noon Dec. 13 wins. All contest participants are eligible for this prize, including winners in the Most Colorful, Most Traditional and Most Animated categories.
“If you are in the holiday spirit to deck out the exterior of your home, we encourage you to enter this contest,” Carol Glover of UCAR said. “We have grown each year, and it appears all of our residents are thoroughly enjoying the beautiful displays each contestant puts into their masterpiece.”
Libby Capps of UCAR agreed.
“The competition last year was really tight, resulting in great displays,” she said. “We encourage everyone to decorate their homes.”
Citizens are also encouraged to set aside a night following the contest to see all the lights. A Christmas Tour of Lights map listing the addresses of all contest participants will be created by the Cookeville Planning Department and made available on the City of Cookeville website and at the Cookeville Leisure Services office.
“It’s a treat to take a car ride with your family and follow the map,” Glover said. “We hope people will make this one of their holiday traditions.”
For more information about the contest, call Leisure Services at 931-520-4386 or UCAR at 931-528-4093.
WHAT: Merry & Bright Holiday Home Challenge
WHEN:
- Entry deadline: Nov. 26
- Judging: Nov. 29-Dec. 5
- Social media contest: Dec. 6-13
PARTICIPANTS: Putnam County residents, 10-mile radius of Cookeville Courthouse Square (single-family residences)
ENTRY FEE: $10
CONTACT: Cookeville Leisure Services, 931-520-4386; Upper Cumberland Association of REALTORS, 931-528-4093
PHOTO CUTLINE: Registration is open for the third annual Merry and Bright Holiday Home Challenge. Categories are Most Colorful, Most Traditional and Most Animated. Here is one of last year’s winners on W. J Robinson Road.