Get Your Lights On!

The Marco Island House and Business Christmas Decorating Contest Committee and Chairman Dave Rice announce the 19th Annual Christmas Business Decorating Contest has officially begun. 

Let's get in the Holiday Spirit in “Lighting Up Marco.” There is no charge to enter the contest.

BUSINESS CONTEST:

• Preliminary judging will be nightly from 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM beginning December 16 - 18th.

• Businesses are judged for their EXTERIOR DECORATIONS only, including WINDOW DISPLAYS that are visible to the public. 

• Since businesses are located throughout the Island, it is suggested that business owners contact Kristina by email at Kristina.lambros@gmail.com with the business name and address. 

• The winner receives the coveted Yard Sign to be displayed annually and a wall Plaque on Saturday, December 21st.

HOUSE CONTEST

PRELIMINARY JUDGING OF HOMES will occur on the nights of December 16-18 from 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM. 

FINAL JUDGING OF THE TOP TEN FINALISTS will occur with the judges’ trolley tour on Friday, December 20.

This will be the 31st Annual Christmas House Decorating Contest. The House Decorating Contests have been sponsored by LCEC for 31st consecutive years. A committee of 32 dedicated community-minded citizens makes it all happen.

This year, the Preliminary Judging will be done on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, December 16, 17, and 18, from 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM each night. Homeowners are instructed to have their lights on all three nights to ensure that the judges may view all properties. 

Judging teams evaluate every home on every street on Marco. Winners are not eligible to win again for a five-year period.

The Final Judging of the Top 10 finalists is scheduled for Friday, December 20, from 6:30 – 10:30 PM. First Horizon Bank sponsors the Finals Night Judges’ Tailgate Party that precedes the Judges’ Trolley Tour to the Top 10 Homes to select the 2024 Winner. The trolley will depart from First Horizon Bank, 605 Bald Eagle, at 6:30 PM.

All owners of the Top 10 Homes receive a plaque. The overall winner receives the coveted Yard Sign, Winner’s Plaque, and the LCEC Traveling Trophy to be kept for one year by the winners of the House Contest and then passed on to the next year’s winner. Previous winners of both home and business contests display their yard signs annually and continue to decorate in the spirit of the season. A list of the Top 10 Finalists and “Worth Seeing” addresses are supplied to the media and other outlets on December 19 following the preliminary judging so families may visit and enjoy the beauty and originality of the decorated homes throughout the holiday season. The list of the Top 10 homes is available through the press outlets, at the Chamber of Commerce Office, or by email request after December 18 to Event Chairman Dave Rice at marcodave@comcast.net. For those joining the car caravan that traditionally follows the judges’ trolley, lists will be distributed prior to the tour. 

The entire Committee looks forward to the 2024 contest and hopes participation levels soar beyond the 1,694 decorated homes in 2023. 

Rice may be contacted by e-mail at marcodave@comcast.net.