2016 Best Overall and Best In Overlook Park District winner!
As we move into December the Lakewood Observer will once again be having its Annual Holiday Lighting Contest. Each year we try to reward both the hard work of Lakewood residents and businesses, and also their creativity. So over the years the contest and categories have grown to be as creative as the holiday displays around this community.
I am sure all of the regular readers will remember how this started. Steve Davis and I were driving around the city noticing a true lack of effort in many dismal displays, and we joked that "Lakewood is the Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs." This was years before the campaign that Cleveland was the Paris of the Midwest, yawn. Anyway, suddenly we came upon a house that had a single strand of lights, but they were used creatively. As we looked we discussed what would go through the minds of a person that only used one strand of lights? Then a few houses away we saw a house that had a red blanket over the first floor window, and a green blanket over the second floor window, and an epiphany washed over us with the joy of Christmas and the holiday season as we realized that unlike their neighbors, at least they took the effort to decorate, and try to being a little Christmas spirit into not only their lives but the lives of everyone around them. BAM our hearts melted, and it was decided that Lakewood needed to reward as many people as possible for their efforts both large and small, after all Love conquers all. And as witnessed by a winner of both "best use of one light" and "best use of non-traditional Christmas items" a single green light that lit up a Bob Marley "One Love" flag the contest was born!
This year we are starting with this list of categories, but are open to adding more, as needed or dreamed up by the public, after all this is truly a community wide contest celebrating our diversity as well as our love and respect for each other.
Prizes will be posted next to the categories in this thread along with the sponsors of that contest.
So let the contest begin!
Best Holiday Lighting Display Overall
Best Holiday Display with Nativity Display
Best Holiday Lighting Display incorporating Big Old Bulbs
Best Holiday Lighting Display incorporating Inflatables
Best use of One Strand of Lights
Best Use of One Color of Lights
Best Use of One Light
Best Use of Traditional Displays unlit
Best Use of non-Traditional Displays
Best Use of A Peace Sign
Best Lighting Display Double House
Best Lighting Display Double Downstairs Only
Best Lighting Display Double Upstairs Only
Best Lighting Display Incorporating Backyards
Best Lighting Display Incorporating Tree Lawn
Best Lighting Display In Which A Ladder Was Needed
Best Holiday Display Incorporating a Sign
Best Holiday Display Incorporating “I’m With Charlie” Sign
Best Holiday Display Incorporating Santa
Best Holiday Display With Creative Us of Shadows
Best Holiday Display On Corner Lot Incorporating Both Sides of Lot
Best Holiday Display Backyard Only
Best Holiday Display Viewable Only From the Lake
Best Use Of Living Animals Planned
Best Use Of Living Animals un-Planned
Best Decorated Tree Pine/Fir
Best Decorated Tree non-Pine/Fir
Best Holiday Display Local Business
Best Holiday Display National Chain
Best Holiday Display Candles In Window Only
Best Holiday Display Overlook Park District
Best Holiday Display Scenic Park District
Best Holiday Display Emerald Canyon Historic District
Best Holiday Display Birdtown Historic District
Best Holiday Display On Goldcoast Apartment
Best Holiday Display DowntowN
2016 Best Use of Living Animals unPlanned.
Let the Contest Begin, if you know or see any displays worthy of a chance send them in, suggest them here, post photos here, or on our question of the Day which will be changed December 1st to reflect the contest.
Party on Lakewood!
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