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.
From 2007
From 2013
2016
Business winner that year!
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 mind of a person who 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 bring 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!
It is easy To suggest your favorites (up to 4 a day) go to: http://lakewoodobserver.com/daily-question/2019-10-02
4 people that suggest homes will be chosen for prizes worth up to $50!
Let's get this winter party going, let's find those lights!