Saturday, November 14, 2026
The Marco Island House and Business Decorating Committee pictured at their annual PotLuck Planning session on November 10 hosted by committee members Bob Boland and Lyn Bedell. Front row: Mike Mickes, Carla Mickes, Mindy Star, Linda Turner, Dave Rice, Judy Sacher, Betty Newman, Mary Vertin, Allyson Richards, Lyn Bedell and Sandy Dauch.
Back Row: Russ Simmons, Bruce Robertson, Jerry Swaicki, Jim Richards, Larry Sacher, Roger Star, and Bob Boland. Not pictured: Marc and Kristina Creach, Diane and Ken Honecker, Steve Josselyn and Bette McGilvrey, Lauri Kalanges, Rachel Schenk, Lillibeth Nordell, Jackie Strategos, and Richard Droste.
This is the 30th Annual Christmas House Decorating Contest. The House Decorating Contests have been sponsored by LCEC for the 30th consecutive year. A committee of 33 dedicated community-minded citizens makes it all happen.
This year the Preliminary Judging will be done on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, December 11, 12 and 13 between 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM each night. Homeowners are instructed to have their lights on all three nights to ensure that the judges may view all properties.
The Final Judging is scheduled for Friday, December 15 from 6:30 – 10:30 PM. New Horizon Bank sponsors the Finals Night Judges’ Tailgate Party that precedes the Judges’ Trolley Tour to the Top 10 Homes to select the 2023 Winner.
All owners of the Top 10 Homes receive a plaque. The overall winner receives the coveted yard sign, winner’s plaque and the LCEC Traveling Trophy to be kept for one year by the winners of the House Contest and then passed on to the next year’s winner. Previous winners of both home and business contests display their yard sign annually and continue to decorate in the spirit of the season. A list of the Top 10 finalists and “Worth Seeing” addresses are supplied to the media and other outlets on December 14 following the preliminary judging so families may visit and enjoy the beauty and originality of the decorated homes throughout the holiday season. The list of the Top 10 homes listed in the most convenient order for drivers are available through the press outlets, at the Chamber of Commerce Office or by email request after December 13 to Event Chairman, Dave Rice at marcodave@comcast.net. For those joining the car caravan that traditionally follows the judges’ trolley, lists are distributed prior to the tour.
Judging teams evaluate every home on every street on Marco. Winners are not eligible to win again for a five year period.
The entire Committee looks forward to the 2023 contest and hopes participation levels soar beyond the 1,485 decorated homes in 2022.
Rice may be contacted by email at marcodave@comcast.net.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here