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Holiday Decorating Contests

Thursday to Tuesday

12/03 to 12/15

5:00 PM to 11:45 PM

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Get into the holiday spirit by entering your home or neighborhood/street in the Annual Holiday Decorating Contest! Winners will receive a gift card and yard sign to display throughout the holiday season.  Residents will use the interactive map beginning Thursday, December 3, to vote for their favorites.

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, December 2

Enter one of the following categories:

  • New Kid on the Block:This category is designed for first-time participants ready to showcase their creativity and holiday spirit. Whether you're a new resident, an aspiring decorator, or stepping into the holiday spotlight for the first time, this is your opportunity to make a dazzling debut. 
  • Most Creative Use of Lights: This category celebrates originality and ingenuity in holiday lighting. Judging will focus on the overall effect and the innovative application of lights, encouraging participants to think beyond traditional decorations. Displays should feature imaginative designs, unexpected elements, or intricate patterns that create a visually captivating and unique presentation. The emphasis is on the creative use of lights rather than the quantity or conventional holiday themes.
  • Best Use of Theme: This category highlights decorations centered around a specific holiday theme, such as “The Grinch,” “Reindeer,” “The Nutcracker,” or “12 Days of Christmas.” Participants will be judged on their creativity and how effectively they incorporate their chosen theme across all aspects of their display. The focus is on consistent and imaginative execution, ensuring the theme is seamlessly woven throughout the entire presentation.
  • Most Traditional: Honoring the finest use of traditional holiday décor, this category celebrates timeless and familiar Christmas decorations. It highlights a classic color palette of red, green, gold, and white, complemented by twinkling lights, traditional ornaments, Santa figures, reindeer, wreaths, garlands, and iconic Christmas imagery. Entries should evoke the warm, nostalgic charm of a "Norman Rockwell" Christmas, capturing the essence of a beloved holiday tradition.
  • Small Spaces: This category celebrates condominium and townhome residents' creativity and holiday spirit. Participants are invited to decorate the exterior of their units, showcasing festive designs that maximize smaller spaces. Judging will focus on creativity, visual appeal, and adherence to community guidelines.
  • Light Up Ladera (Neighborhood): This category encourages neighbors to come together and transform their street into a festive wonderland of holiday lights and decorations. Whether featuring classic white lights, vibrant colorful displays, or creative themed designs, this contest is an opportunity to showcase your neighborhood’s unique holiday spirit. To qualify, at least half of the homes on the street must participate.

Legacy Award
This distinguished category pays tribute to the exceptional homes that have secured the coveted first-place title for two or more years. While these homes won’t be judged, they will continue to be featured on our interactive map, allowing the community to enjoy their timeless holiday displays.

Legacy Award Recipients
15 Bainbridge Avenue
10 Hammond Road
17 Shively Road
7 Sugarcane Lane
12 Bramford Street
73 Flintridge Avenue
21 Shively Road

Event Guidelines

Please remember that the Community Guidelines must be followed and that decorations must be placed on your own property.  We kindly ask that all decorations be placed on the homeowner's property, including the dwelling and patio spaces. Please refrain from adding any decorations to Association common areas including pocket parks, landscaping, and trees to avoid enforcement.

Holiday lighting and decorations may be displayed without ARC approval sixty (60) days prior to the holidays and up to thirty (30) days after the holidays, but may not be displayed more than a total of ninety (90) days in any twelve (12) month period. Lighting and decorations should appropriately relate to the holiday being celebrated.  

As you decorate your home during this time of year, please keep in mind that any decorations on or over county property (sidewalks, parkways, roads, etc.) require and encroachment permit. Please note that extension cords are not allowed across sidewalks or roads with or without an encroachment permit. 

The County of Orange wants to ensure a safe environment for families, property, vehicles and public roadways. With your safety as our top priority, we want to work with interested residents and homeowner associations to ensure the placement of decorations on/over public property is done properly in compliance with the County of Orange regulations.

This is a reminder that an "encroachment" permit is needed for placing decorations (and any other privately-owned materials) in or over public areas in unincorporated Orange County areas, such as public streets and sidewalks. An encroachment permit is not required for decorations on private property.

If you would like to participate in the Holiday Decorating Contest and are installing lights over public right-of-ways, you will be required to provide a copy of the Encroachment Permit obtained from the County. If the permit is not received by the start of the judging period or date, and there are holiday displays installed over public right of ways, you will be disqualified from the contest.

Additional information may be obtained from OC Public Works by calling (714) 667-8888, via email at encroachment@ocpw.ocgov.com or by visiting the website at Safety Standards for Holiday Decorations over streets, sidewalks, and other public areas for online services.