Holiday Light & Decor Contest

Contest Rules:

Eligibility
- Homes must be located within the City of Jamestown to participate.
- Only residential properties are eligible (no businesses or commercial properties).
- Multi-family residences are permitted, but only one entry per property will be accepted.
Nomination Requirements
- Participants should submit a nomination that includes:
  - A high-quality photo showcasing the holiday decorations.
  - The address of the home being nominated.
  - Submissions may be emailed to lights@jamestownny.gov or mailed to 200 East Third Street, Attn: Holiday Lights, Jamestmailto:holidaylights@jamestownny.govown, NY 14701
Submission Period
- Nominations will be accepted from 12:00 AM on November 17, 2025 to 11:59 PM on December 12, 2025.
- Late submissions will not be considered, so please submit early to ensure eligibility.
Judging & Community Voting
- After the nomination period ends, the top three homes in each Ward will be selected as finalists.
- Community voting will be held online at www.jamestownny.gov to determine the winning home in each Ward.
Voting Period
- The online community voting period will take place from December 15, 2025, to December 20, 2025.
- Voting will be conducted exclusively online, and each voter must provide a valid email address to participate.
- Voters may select one winner in each of the six wards, with only one vote counted per email address. Multiple votes from the same email will be removed to ensure fairness.
Prizes
- One (1) gift card will be awarded to the winning home in each Ward:
  - Ward I – College Ward
  - Ward II – Lakeview Ward
  - Ward III – Chadakoin Ward
  - Ward IV – Bergman Ward
  - Ward V – Forest Ward
  - Ward VI – Willard Heights Ward
General Rules
- By entering the contest, participants agree to allow the City of Jamestown to share submitted photos and addresses for promotional purposes.
- Contest organizers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with contest rules or displays inappropriate content.
Photo Submission Guidelines
- Photos should be high-resolution and clear to showcase the decorations effectively.
- Participants should submit only one (1) photo per entry. Additional photos will not be considered.
Judging Criteria for Finalists
- Decorations will be judged on creativity, originality, and overall visual impact.
- Judges will consist of a selection committee appointed by the City of Jamestown.
Community Voting Rules
- Voting will be conducted exclusively online.
- Each voter must provide a valid email address to participate.
- One email address can cast one vote for each of the six wards, with only one vote per ward allowed.
- Any suspicion of vote manipulation, including the use of multiple email addresses or unauthorized voting practices, may result in disqualification.
- The voting system administrator will monitor for irregularities, and any votes deemed fraudulent will be removed from the results.
Winner Announcement & Prize Mailing
- The City of Jamestown will announce the winners on the official website and social media pages on December 22, 2025.
- Gift cards will be mailed directly to the winners shortly after the announcement.
Weather & Safety
- Decorations must be securely displayed to withstand winter weather conditions. The City is not responsible for any damage to decorations during the contest period.
Disqualification
- Contest entries containing offensive, inappropriate, or unsafe displays will be disqualified. The City of Jamestown reserves the right to remove or disqualify any entry that does not meet community standards.
Disclaimer & Liability
- By entering the contest, participants agree to hold the City of Jamestown harmless from any claims, damages, or losses arising from participation in the contest or the installation of holiday decorations.