Morningside Shines Bright with Holiday Lights Contest

Houses nominated for the neighborhood holiday lights contest. Photo collage by Nicolas Hall

Late last year the MorningSide board brainstormed what we could do as a community to celebrate the holidays. With COVID canceling our annual holiday party for the 2nd year in a row, we needed something festive but still safe and socially distant.

What did we come up with? A neighborhood holiday lights contest! What better way to get into the spirit of the season, and inspire more neighbors to decorate their homes than having some competitive fun with prizes and bragging rights on the line.

We got the word out, and the nominations came rushing in — over 30, with many houses receiving multiple nominations. Five MCO board members presided as judges, weighing criteria like design, creativity, location, and number of nominations received.

(drum-roll please) And the winners of the MorningSide Holiday Contest are —

3rd Place
Coming in third, we have 5960 Audubon, a fantastic, well-lit house on the north end — classy decor and a great touch with the addition of a personalized sign, “Happy Holidays from The Slade Family”.

2nd Place
In 2nd place, we have 12120 E Outer Drive. This house — with great visibility to cars passing by on Outer Drive — featured fantastic, colorful lights on not only the house itself but the entire lot next door. A head-turner!

3rd place: 5960 Audubon

2nd place runners-up: 12120 E Outer Drive

1st Place
First place of our Holiday Lights Contest goes to 5818 Beaconsfield! Video of the house was posted online — the lights and decorations were synchronized with holiday music — and it got a lot of attention and positive feedback.

President Eric Duweke gives 1st place winner Nicole Bryant a certificate and prize.

5818 Beaconsfield lit up at night.

Thanks to everyone who sent in a nomination and everyone who participated in the contest. Let’s do it again in 2022.