Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Holidat Events Scheduled By Chamber

For the third year, the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the Annual Christmas Outdoor Decorating Contest.

Actually, according to Von Gordon, Chamber manager, there will be two contests. One will be for those living inside the city limits of Prescott, while the second event is for those living in the county.

Deadline for entering is Thursday, Dec. 12. Entry forms may be procured at the Chamber office, the Bank of Prescott and Nevada County Branch Bank of Delight.

Judging will take place Saturday, Dec. 14. Displays should be lighted and ready for judging by 6:30 p.m. The judging will last until 10:30 p.m.

Category criteria are: best lighted display -- which will consist of displays with the main attraction being lights; best unlighted display -- basing the judging on decorations utilized as the center of attention with minimal lights utilized; and best theme -- which will be judged on all decorations being tied to a central theme. It can be a large display with supporting decorations, or an overall decorating theme.

Judges will determine the category for each home entered.

Yard signs honoring and identifying each winner will be displayed through the holiday season.

Winners will be announced through the media, with a list of contestants available for those wanting to see the homes.

For more information, call the Chamber at 887-2101.

Along with the contest for residents, there will be a Merchant Window Decorating Contest.

This is being done to help promote the Festival of Lights, a project inspired by the decorating of the Nevada County Courthouse designated as "Henry's Lights."

Many of the downtown buildings were outlined with white

Christmas lights last year. Plans are to complete this project by putting lights on the rest of the buildings this year.

To help enhance the Festival of Lights, the Chamber is asking business, industry and organizations to sponsor a display to be placed along Highway 67 between the depot and West Main Street along East First South.

The purpose of these lights is for the enjoyment of the local residents and to serve as an attraction to encourage visitors, whom we hope will shop in Prescott during their visit.

The Merchant Window Decorating Contest is just another effort to help promote the Festival of Lights, as local merchants are being asked to decorate their windows.

Judging for this contest will be based on originality; creativity; merchandising; and overall beauty.

The winner gets bragging rights and the Traveling Trophy for the year.

Deadline to enter the contest is Dec. 3, 1996. Windows will be judged the evening of Dec. 4, with the winners announced during the Christmas on the Square Program, Dec. 5.