Community Calendar

Visit Effingham is excited to announce its 9th annual holiday light competition Holiday Lights & Festive Sights for the 2022 holiday season!

Plan 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 again feature four categories, consisting of the following: 

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.

We will announce one winner 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 5th at noon.  Call the Effingham Tourism Office at 217-342-5310 to enter your home or business in the competition. 

 After all entries have been made, official judges will narrow the nominees down to the top three in each category.  The top three will then be voted on by the public.  Everyone is encouraged to vote.  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 open up from December 9th through the 16th, at noon.

Winners will be announced on December 16th in the afternoon.  The first-place winner in each category will receive $250, with the business winner picking a favorite charity to donate their winnings to.  They will also receive a sign to be displayed in their yard through January 2, 2023.  Every person that participates in voting will be entered into a drawing where two individuals will be selected to win a $100 gift card of their choice. 

For more information on the Holiday Light Competition, please call 217-342-5310.

Holiday Lights & Festive Sights Competition

Entries Due: December 5th at Noon

Public Voting: December 9th - 16th

Winners Announced: December 16th