Winners of Loving Mountain City Christmas Décor Contest receive:
a. Small potted poinsettia
b. $10 gift certificate to local eatery
c. Both of the above
d. None of the above
Answer: d
A sign is posted in the yard of the award winners for about two weeks. That’s it.
Question: Why would anyone participate?
Answer: LOVING MOUNTAIN CITY! “Love” is what it boils down to with the 2013 Loving Mountain City Christmas Décor Contest. Love is a good incentive to start now with planning and purchases.
You might want to stick a calendar in front of your face while you read this column to see the love woven through the plans, and the love it will take to pull it off.
Tour de Lights for Mountain City’s children, which includes Santa and a hayride routed past the award winning houses, takes place on Thursday, December 19th.
So, the Décor Contest must take place the previous weekend, starting December 15th, smack dab in the middle of the month.
To make the Décor Contest fun and enjoyable for voters, nominators will do the time-consuming work to narrow down a simple slate of nominated houses by pre-judging on Monday, December 9th and Tuesday, December 10th.
Yes, less than 1.5 weeks after Thanksgiving, decor must be ready. This does take love.
The “challenge” with the Contest in previous years stemmed from every house eligible for every City Wide Award. The 9 (yes, only 9) who voted last year reported investing 2 – 4 hours (or more) over a 2-night period. Spending this much time is an act of love.
The Nominators will commit to give hours on Monday and Tuesday, to make voting fun and easy during the Official Judging.
Val Cass exemplifies love-motivated Christmas decorating. Holly and Val, on Live Oak Court, win Grand Prize every year. The time and money and sacrifice is not to win a sign posted in their yard. Rather, it’s an act of love to provide enjoyment for the child in all of us and for visitors who drive through Mountain City to see the lights. (Perhaps you have pleasant childhood memories of driving to see lights during the Christmas Season?)
Val has a major surgery scheduled next week. So, Holly told Val he did not have to do it this year. Love compelled Val to make the glorious 2013 Christmas display happen.
So that no one will be disappointed, Val (79 years old) has been up on ladders in October, installing lights. Holly’s brother will complete their Christmas display when he comes in from out of state for two weeks at Thanksgiving.
The Christmas Décor Contest Committee plans to produce a printed and electronic map of the winners.
And, we located a survey that will produce and tabulate the Nominations and the Contest Winners.
Alice Kessner posted below the “Volunteers Needed” post on the Loving Mountain City Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/lovingmountaincity) , “I love living in a community where so many people go all out on their Christmas lights!”
I love that Mountain City has a “CHRISTmas Award” for the best Christ-centered display.
I love tidbits, too. Email [email protected] or leave a message at 512-268-5678.
Thanks! Love, Pauline
