The City of Washington is inviting all residents and business owners to get into the Christmas spirit and show it Dec. 9 through Dec. 13.

The Spirit of Christmas Contest will be held for the second year running: one home in four separate neighborhoods, a downtown merchant and one non-downtown business will be awarded top prize for best Christmas spirit, based on quality, quantity and theme of decorations and lights. Winners will receive a $50 credit on their utility bill, courtesy of the City of Washington.

“I think it’s just to get people excited about the holidays and really get some more community involvement in the holidays,” said Jennifer Brennan, Washington’s community development planner. “We’re thinking of different ways for a different group of people to become involved in an activity that the city is promoting.”

Civic pride is part of the plan: each winner will be given a sign to display in their front yard or business, naming them as a Spirit of Christmas winner.

Last year’s residential neighborhood winners were in Northgate, Smallwood, the downtown historic district and Ninth Street, according to City Manager Brian Alligood.

But the entries are by no means limited to those neighborhoods — the contest extends all over, within city limits, Alligood said.

“They’re going to look at each subdivision and the historic area and the other areas of town,” Alligood said. “They won’t congregate (the winners) all in one area. They’ll kind of spread the wealth a little bit.”

The window of Dec. 9 to Dec. 13 gives contest judges the opportunity to hit all the neighborhoods and see all the homes and businesses in the running. While this year’s judges remain unnamed, last year’s included Mayor Archie Jennings, Washington Tourism Development Authority Director Lynn Lewis, City Manager Josh Kay and other city employees.

Alligood said that while he does some holiday decorating, his home likely won’t be on par with this year’s winners.

“I personally don’t do a whole lot, but that’s just me,” he laughed. “But some people do a really good job of it.”