WINDSOR — Last year, the first holiday season in the Upper Valley marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, people turned to decorating to spread a little more cheer.
That’s the case again this year as communities are once again hosting decorating contests — called “Light Up” events — and putting together maps so people can drive around to look at lights.
“People really liked it and enjoyed it, and it was amazing to see so many more houses and people lit up,” said Riley White, Windsor’s assistant town clerk and organizer of Light Up Windsor. “Everyone likes the Christmas lights, or the holiday lights I should say. It’s always nice to see the town a little brighter.”
Last year, Windsor offered gift cards from businesses in town to residents who showed that they purchased holiday decorations. About 20 people took advantage of the offer, but many more decorated on their own. Light Up Windsor was inspired by Gov. Phil Scott’s push for more Vermonters to put up decorations in response to typical holiday events being canceled or scaled back.
This year, Windsor residents are encouraged to put up decorations and email rwhite@windsorvt.org with a photo and location. The deadline for submissions is Monday, Dec. 6. Afterward, Windsor will put together a map that will be available online.
Judges will vote on the best decorations and winning residents will receive gift cards. Businesses will get a lighted Simon Pearce glass Christmas tree that they can hold onto for a year.
“It will basically be bragging rights,” White said. “We’re trying to keep it fun and local.”
The Hartford Parks and Recreation Dept. will also be hosting another Light Up event. Residents and business owners must register their decorations at hartfordvt.myrec.com by Dec. 10. They also must send a photograph of their completed display to recreation@hartford-vt.org. A list of locations will be posted on the department’s website and Facebook page.
Last year, more than 60 homes and a handful of businesses participated in Light Up Hartford, said Jay McDonough, superintendent of recreation programs for the town. While the majority were in White River Junction, people from all of the town’s five villages participated.
“This just came up last year for the first time primarily due to the pandemic — What could we do that’s a fun, exciting, safe way to celebrate the holidays?” McDonough said. “It was just really well-received last year, and the community was really excited about it.”
Well before the pandemic, people would regularly drive around to look at lights. They just might not have had a map to go by.
“Me, personally, I will drive around with my kids looking for lights, and this kind of streamlines the process,” McDonough said.
The Cohase Chamber of Commerce is also sponsoring a decorating contest for residents and businesses in Orford; Piermont; Haverhill; Newbury, Vt.; Bradford, Vt.; and Fairlee. Participants must register by Friday at cohase.org/winter-lights and a map will be available beginning Saturday. People can go online from Dec. 6 to Dec. 29 to vote for their favorite decorations.
The Lebanon Recreation, Arts and Parks Department is also putting together a map, but will not have a contest. The Lebanon program, known as “Light Up Leb Part 2: Winter Edition” begins Saturday, and residents have until Dec. 19 to submit their addresses to lebanonnh.gov/1452/Light-Up-Leb-Part-2 to be added to the map. Last year, 12 homes participated, including one neighborhood, said Meagan Henry, a program coordinator at the department.
“It’s just nice for people to go around and be able to look at them on their own,” she said.
The map will be available at lebanonnh/gov/holidays.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
