Sunday, November 15, 2026
From left, seated: Lyn Bidell, Liz Doyle, Diane Honecker, Bette McGilvray, Judy Sacher, Mike Mickes, Carla Mickes and Peggy Grass. Standing: Linda Turner, Larry Sacher, Ken Honecker, Sandy Dauch, Bill Doyle, Steve Josselyn, Barbara Dameron, Keith Dameron, Jerry Swiacki, Barry Grass and Dave Rice.
Submitted Photos:LCEC representative Tricia Dorn presents Chairman Dave Rice with a sponsor check for $2,000.
Submitted
The Christmas House and Business Decorating Contest is underway, and enthusiasm is building as holiday decorations light up Marco Island.
The contest, in its 20th year, is funded and supported by sponsors LCEC, Centennial Bank and committee members. For the 20th anniversary finals, special guests LCEC CEO Dennie Hamilton, his wife Pricilla, and LCEC representative Tricia Dorn will crown the winning decorated home.
Preliminary Judging – Monday & Tuesday,
December 12, 13 & 14
Preliminary judging will be done on December 12, 13 and 14 from 6:30 to 10:30 PM each night. Property owners are instructed to have their lights on for all three nights to insure that the judges view all properties.
Final Judging – Friday, December 16
The final ten homes are judged from 6:30 to 10 PM by the entire membership of the House Decorating Committee. The committee bus departs at 6:30 PM from long time contest sponsor Centennial Bank, with thanks to bank Manager Diana Aruta and her staff. A car caravan follows the trolley to see the ten best homes in advance.
The Business Winner is judged on their exterior decorations and presented a plaque and a yard sign during business hours on December 17 by judges Marc Creech, Kristina Lambros and Chairman Dave Rice.
Contest Prizes
The night of the finals, the top ten receive a
Finalist Plaque presented by the judging team from that area. The winner of the House Contest receives a check for $250. The House Winner and the Business Winner receive the traditional yard sign and a Winner’s Plaque.
Many previous winners display their yard sign annually and continue to decorate in the spirit of the season. Top ten contenders and “Worth Seeing” addresses are supplied to the media so families may visit and enjoy the beauty and originality of the decorated homes throughout the holiday season.
Contest Rules
The island is divided into nine areas with a judging team evaluating every home on every street on Marco. The judging teams rotate to a different zone each season. Winners are not eligible to win again for a five-year period.
Judges and Committee
The committee judges are Dave and Jeanne Rice, Bob Boland, Lyn Bedell, Carla and Mike Mickes, Dick Niess, Larry and Judy Sacher, Liz and Bill Doyle, Ken and Diane Honecker, Jerry Swiacki, Linda Turner, Barry and Peggy Grass, Bette McGilvray, Steven Josselyn, Keith and Barbara Dameron, Sandy Dauch, Kristina Lambros and Marc Creach.
Dave Rice states, “The committee makeup is superb. They, along with the many home and business owners that participate, are what makes the event the success that it is.”
For additional information and sponsorship availability contact Dave Rice at 239-250-2175 or marcoislanddave@
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