A Christmas lights connection
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loudly for all to hear. The second best way is to cover your house in lights.
And if that doesn’t work, maybe $1000 will.
First National Marlborough has launched its first-ever Christmas Lights Competition, with Prezzy cards for the winners (Note: they don’t have to be spent on presents).
But branch manager Angela Bowers said this Christmas comp was more quality over quantity.
The winning house might not necessarily have the most lights, it might just be ‘‘a bit different’’, she said.
Bowers described the competition as a community event to ‘‘connect neighbours and engage Marlborough in the festive spirit’’.
Marlburians can register their home in the Christmas Lights Competition from today.
A map, to be released on December 6, will show participating houses, and the public are encouraged to vote for their favourite by December 18.
Bowers said the idea was floated around the office and the team thought ‘‘yeah, let’s make this happen’’.
‘‘It’s something novel – say if people have family visiting in Marlborough, they can take them out and do a drive around town and have a look at the lights,’’ she said.
‘‘When you’ve got kids, we like to take them out to have a look at the lights, but it’s knowing where they are.’’
Hilton Place resident Gwen Scammell said her whole street got behind decorating for Christmas.
‘‘When we moved here we were the ‘dark side’ of the street,’’ Scammell said.
‘‘We thought that wasn’t on, so we started to decorate the house.’’
Since then Scammell said her light collection had grown significantly and she often looked online during the year for good light deals.
Scammell’s neighbour Brian Edgar said it normally took him a couple of days to get his decorations up.
‘‘We’re definitely the bright end now, it’s nice to do something with your neighbours,’’ Edgar said.
‘‘I think the worst part is taking it all down though.’’
The winners would be announced five days before Christmas, with Prezzy cards for first ($1000), second ($500) and third ($250) place.
First National Marlborough was encouraging households in Picton and the wider Marlborough district to enter too.
Houses entered in the competition would be given small signs for their gardens to show they were taking part.