Niagara Falls takes the lead on holiday Sparkle Awards
Annual decorating contest recognizes the best light displays in the city
Hot off the heels of a successful Spooky Awards, the City of Niagara Falls is now taking the lead on the Sparkle Awards.
In past years, the event — which was called Sparkling Lighting Awards — invited residents to decorate their homes for the holidays and was done by the non-profit Winter Festival of Lights organization, which recently merged with Niagara Falls Tourism.
During a recent meeting, Coun. Chris Dabrowski’s motion for the city to spearhead this year’s awards was approved. The municipality will set aside $5,000 to help put on and market the event.
“We have a plan and a strategy in place,” he said. “We could basically replicate everything we did for the Spooky Awards and do it for the Sparkle Lighting Awards.”
More than 50 households across Niagara Falls participated in the city’s inaugural Halloween home decorating competition. The public were invited to follow an interactive map on the city’s website and drive around to check out the decorations and then cast their vote online in the People’s
Choice category.
Awards were handed out in three categories: Best Effects, Judges’ Favourite, and People’s Choice.
Dabrowski said just like Halloween, the city should encourage residents to celebrate Christmas in creative ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With Christmas looking a bit different this year, such as every other holiday and birthday and celebration, it will just give residents another opportunity to socially distance and enjoy what we have to offer in the city,” he said.
Mayor Jim Diodati said if Dabrowski and staff can put together an event similar to the Spooky Awards, it will be a “winner.”
“People are looking for things they can do as a family that’s safe,” he said. “You can do it in the bubble of your car, and you can drive around, and you can see the houses.”
In an interview, Jeff Guarasci, a community development coordinator with the city, said this year’s Sparkle Awards will run “very similar” to what has taken place in the past with the Winter Festival of Lights.
All entries will be self-nominated online at niagarafalls.ca/sparkleawards. The deadline to enter is Dec. 11 by 4 p.m.
Participants can choose to be entered into either the residential category or commercial/ multi-residential category.
Each category will have an opportunity to win either the Judge’s Favourite Award (first, second and third) or the People’s Choice Award (first, second and third). Prizes will include trophies, gift cards and
Comic Con mystery boxes.
Guarasci said upon registration online, participants will need to upload a picture of their lighting display, so that it can be added to the city’s “Sparkle map.”
“This feature will allow residents to go onto our website and view all of the Sparkle participants,” he said. “Residents will be able to generate their own driving routes to visit the participants that they want to see — right from their phones.”
Guarasci said property owners will also be given a Sparkle Awards lawn sign to indicate they are participating in the program.
He said voting will take place between Dec. 15-20.
For more information, visit niagarafalls.ca/sparkleawards.