City Beginning 2021 Holiday Lights and Festive Sites Competition

The City of Effingham Convention & Visitors Bureau's 8th annual holiday light competition Holiday Lights & Festive Sights is about to begin for the 2021 holiday season. Residents are being encouraged to decorate your residence or business to help spread holiday cheer and welcome visitors throughout the season. All residents and businesses residing within city limits are encouraged to participate in the competition.

The competition will feature four categories: The More, the Merrier Award: extreme, over-the-top or interactive; The Hallmark House Award: classy, elegant, "Hallmark;" The Children's Choice Award: reference to holiday pop culture and/or kid-friendly characters; and The Spirit of Effingham Business Award: businesses, including exteriors and/or window displays. One winner will be announced from each group.

Residences and businesses need to be completely decorated when they call to enter the competition. A fellow citizen or the residence or business owner can nominate himself or herself. Entries must be in by December 6th at noon. Please submit a photo of the home or business when nominating a location.

Call the Effingham Tourism Office at 217-342-5310 to enter a home or business in the competition. After all entries are made, official judges will narrow the nominees down to the top three in each category. The public will then vote for their favorites.

Entries can be voted for online at the Effingham Convention and Visitor Bureau's Facebook page: Visit Effingham, at www.VisitEffinghamIL.com or in person at Effingham City Hall (201 E Jefferson Ave).

Voting will be open December 10th through the 17th at noon. Winners will be announced on December 17th in the afternoon.

The first place winner in each category will receive $250, with the business winner picking a favorite charity to donate the money. They will also receive a sign to be displayed in their yard through January 3, 2022. Every person that participates in voting for their favorite holiday light display will be entered into a drawing for two $100 gift cards of their choice.

For more information on the Holiday Light Competition, please call 217-342-5310 or visit www.VisitEffinghamIL.com.