Decorating Contest Registration Closes Thursday

The window to register for Cookeville’s eighth annual Merry and Bright Holiday Home Challenge closes Thursday.

Recreation Programmer Sally Herren said the challenge showcases your abilities to decorate for Christmas. Herren said those who enter are put on the city’s “Tour of Lights” map so locals can easily find the most extravagant Christmas decorations in the area.

“Sometimes you just drive around aimlessly and don’t really know where to go and which ones have the best displays,” Herren said. “So having this contest, you kind of get an idea of which houses have a really big display that is, they’ve put so much work into and it’s so enjoyable to see.”

Herren said competitors can win awards such as the Griswold Award or Best Use of Inflatables, each coming with a fifty dollar prize. Herren said there are ten houses signed up so far but she expects to see more register before Thursday.

“With Cookeville growing as fast as it is, I really hope that more people enter in the contest who are maybe even new to the area and want to get involved in the community,” Herren said.

Herren said it is a great family activity to tour the participants throughout the city. Herren said the map will also contain a scavenger hunt encouraging people to find different items in the Christmas displays.

“On the way to the specific houses that’s done so much work to enter the contest you’ll see other houses on the way and it’s just really fun,” Herren said.

Herren said those interested in the challenge can find the link to enter the contest on the Leisure Services home page of Cookeville’s website.