Take an evening stroll along the Washington waterfront and one comes across a welcome surprise: one boat after another quite literally lit up like Christmas.

The Washington Harbor District Alliance, in partnership with the City of Washington, put out an invitation to boat owners to decorate their boats, light them up each night through most of December and get free dockage in return. Many took them up on the offer. Now the waterfront looks like a Christmas flotilla has come to port.

Nowhere could one witness the spirit of Christmas better than on Dec. 5, when Christmas revelers descended on the Belle of Washington, armed with strands upon strands of lights. An open invitation was extended to help decorate the Belle, and many people of all ages and backgrounds took owners John Butler and Richard Smoot up on the offer. Hours later, the Belle had joined the lighted city-docked flotilla, making for a festive east-end anchor.

The festival of lights does not end on the waterfront, however. The City of Washington is also offering another event to light up the town, this one open to residences and businesses on land, of course. It’s called the Spirit of Christmas Contest. Residents and business owners are asked to decorate for the holiday and between Dec. 17 and Dec. 23, a panel of judges will drive around town and pick out first- and second-place winners in four categories: residential, inside the historic district; residential, outside the historic district; commercial, inside the historic district; and commercial, outside the historic district. First place in each category receives a $50 credit on their utility bill; second place in each category receives a $25 credit on their utility.

The interesting part is no one has to enter to win. All are automatically entered.

Perhaps it’s time to take a cue from the waterfront folks and have a decorating party — for the sake of the Spirit of Christmas, that is.