By Helina Bailey
It’s time for Christmas lights, so you know what that means: “Light It Up” is back! UT Extension has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce again to host the annual Light It Up contest for the county. Everyone is welcome to participate in this fun holiday tradition that turns Union County into a winter wonderland worthy of being featured in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Started in 2017, this festive event has grown into a town favorite for onlookers and decorators. Each year, this event encourages people to light up the town and make Union County stand out for the Christmas season.
Because parts of the county are rural with little to no structures around them, Christmas lights really stand out and can be visible for miles. Potential participants should know that the competition gets fierce, with people of every age getting in on the action. The kindergarteners take their classroom decorations seriously every year and have locals eager to see what they produce this season. When it comes to businesses off of Highway 33, you can expect some amazing creativity that will surely delight your eye and make you want to stop and stare.
Open to everyone, this decoration contest has three separate categories so homes, businesses, and non-profit organizations can all participate. Folks are invited to compete in the “Individual” category as a home or small business, in the “Organization” category as a non-profit or school (classroom or groups included), or in the “Business” category to do a storefront or business. Decorations can be either outdoor or indoor, involving lights or props. The main rules are, keep it festive and visible!
Created as a way to beautify the town and provide locals with some spectacular Christmas lights to tour during December, this annual contest has grown. Although last year had a dismal turnout, 2020 had a whopping thirty-six entrants. The winners were announced on Facebook after live voting from the community.
To compete, participants must submit an application with their photo by December 15 to LightUpUC@gmail.com The application forms can be found at Tiny.UTK.edu/lightup22
Applicants are only allowed to submit one photo with their application, but collages are permitted if you need to take photos from different vantage points. All photo submissions will be uploaded to the UT Extension Facebook page for voting Dec 16-20. After votes have been tallied up, the winners for each category will be announced on Dec 21.
Winners will receive a yard sign recognizing their achievement, courtesy of Thomas Skibinski from the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, check out the google doc link Tiny.UTK.edu/lightup22 or contact our local extension office at (865) 992-8038.