Light up and win, Mount Prospect residents

Decorate your home for the holidays with care this year in Mount Prospect since an awards committee will be out judging how well you string your lights and display your holiday statues.

Members of the village's special events commission will be dividing the town into various sections to judge homes and businesses.

There's no need to sign up or nominate your best pick because the committee will determine its favorites during the first week of December.

Above all, commission members are looking for well-decorated homes, rather than a carnival of lights.

"We are looking for homes that are not overdone, but very classy," said Paul Seils, who also owns Busse Flowers.

All you have to do is make sure your holiday lights are on the evenings of Dec. 3 to 7.

Winners will receive plaques and recognition at a village board meeting Dec. 18, Seils said.

Competition is expected to be fierce, he added.

One past winner went so far as to display handmade holiday statues that stood about 3 feet tall, Seils said.

Some of the categories are straightforward, like best business, best block, best religious theme, best multi-family and grand prize. Others are more creative, like the simple but elegant category.

A winner of that category would be perhaps someone who tastefully mounted a decorative wreath on a home's chimney, Seils said.

The Clark Griswold Abundance of Lights Award is for those who artfully place lights on their home or business.

One winner of this award strung a number of same-colored lights over the entire facade of the home.

If you won last year, you might think about switching it up this year. The commission doesn't exclude past winners, but will be looking for new ideas, Seils said.

For more information, call (847) 392-6000.

Here's how it works

No nominations are necessary for the holiday decorating contest.

Judges: Members of Mount Prospect's special events commission, who will drive around the first week of December and pick winners

Categories: Best Business, Religious, Best Block, Best Use of Lights, Simple But Elegant, Christmas Fantasy, Best Multi-Family, Clark Griswold Abundance of Lights, Overall Grand Prize

Awards: Plaques and recognition at the village board meeting on Dec. 18

Source: village of Mount Prospect.