Belhaven residents have a new incentive for decorating their yards and homes for Christmas.
This year’s Christmas Festival committee launched a holiday decorating contest. The home with the best holiday decorations will win a blue ribbon and $100.
Lee Ann Greene, a festival volunteer, said judges would be looking for the overall effect of the decorations and how much of the Christmas spirit the decorations evoke.
“The more festive the better,” she said. “I guess we want people to go all out. It can’t just be a string of lights.”
Three judges will travel each street within the town limits, searching for the top three decorated homes.
Second- and third-place finishers will receive ribbons.
Judging starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 6. Greene recommended those who want to participate be ready by 5 p.m. and leave their decorative lights on for several hours.
“Belhaven may look small, but this could take a while,” she said.