Puttin’ on The Glitz

Puttin’ on the Glitz is sponsored by the Beth Richards | Sandy Stover Group at Kissinger Bigatel and Brower

Do you decorate the exterior of your house, townhouse or apartment for the holidays? If so, we want to hear from you! Until December 9, 2022, we are accepting entries in our third annual holiday decorations contest, “Puttin’ on the Glitz”.

This contest celebrates how we use our homes to share the joy of the holiday season. Even before the invention of the electric Christmas tree light in 1882, men and women have decorated their homes for the holidays. Greenery, dried flowers and fruits have been used for wintertime decorations since at least the mid-19th century. Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg is famous for its Christmas decorations made from natural materials.

The internet age has seen holiday decorations taken to a new level, as spirit-filled suburbanites cover every available surface with lights, add a musical sound track, and post videos of the show on YouTube. Many of these displays bring to mind that ancient piece of florists’ wisdom: “It’s not done till it’s overdone”.

As fall nights lengthen into winter, let us celebrate how we decorate the exteriors of our homes. From the electric candle in a window to the over-the-top extravaganza of the Griswold family in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, our decorations are a way we share holiday joy with friends, neighbors, and people we’ve never even met.

Categories

Awards will be given in two categories: traditional and contemporary.

Traditional decorations are displays inspired by sources such as Colonial Williamsburg or the Victorian era. Typical elements include candles in windows, use of natural materials, single colored lights. The traditional style embraces the “less is more” school of holiday decorating, and the results are lovely and elegant.

Contemporary decorations may include, but are not limited to use of multi-colored lights, lights synchronized with music, molded plastic figures, inflatable elements, moving elements, and music. Contemporary displays sometimes say that “less is a bore,” with results that are fantastic and entertaining.

Rules and Fees

  1. Open to single family homes, duplexes, and apartments in Centre County. Commercial establishments are not eligible.
  2. An entry may be a single home or coordinated multi residence display. Multi-residence displays must be on adjoining properties.
  3. Decorations must be visible from the street or a public sidewalk. Judges will not enter properties to view back or side yards.
  4. Entrants’ names will not be released to the judges.
  5. Use of political messages or figures is prohibited.
  6. Entrants must submit a completed application along with up to three photographs of no more than 2MG each and/or a video less than 30 seconds long.
  7. Entry Fee: $5/single home, $20 group entry.
  8. Entry deadline, Friday, December 9, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

Prizes

There will be first, second, and honorable mention prizes in both the Traditional and Contemporary Categories.  Additional prizes for Best Use of Technology, Best Use of Natural Materials, and “Wow” Factor may be made at the judges’ discretion.

Judges

A panel of judges will select the contest winners. They will visit the entries separately and will meet online to select the winners and award prizes.

  • Terra Ingram, Administrative Manager, Institute of Sustainable Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Science, Bellefonte
  • Bettie Miller, Educational Coach, Snyder, Union, Mifflin Child Development, Coburn
  • Kim Tierney, Psychologist, Mifflin County Schools, State College
  • James Tierney, Manager, Happy Valley Improv, State College 

2022 Award Winners

In 2022, the judges made awards for both traditional and contemporary displays.

The winner of first place in the traditional class is the home of Richard Carson, 126 S. Thomas Street, Bellefonte. The home of Jimmy and Sheri Vuccolo, 1231 Shamrock Avenue, State College received second prize.  

In the contemporary class, the top prize winner is the home of Brian & Stacy Schindler, 157 Oaklawaha Street,  Milesburg. The second place winner is the home of Neil Tomnay and Zack Sheffield , 101 Old Mill Road, State College.  

The judges thanked all the entrants for their efforts to bring joy to the holiday season.

Visit the Festival Store!

Visit our online store to buy Festival t-shirts, posters, friendship bracelets and our special jigsaw puzzle.