Emerald Forest earned the top spot in this year’s Walden Lake Christmas lights display contest.
Walden Lake residents definitely have Christmas spirit, which they embrace with a little friendly competition.
For more than 16, years, the homeowners’ association has hosted its annual Christmas light display contest. This year’s event happened Dec. 10.
Not only do the homes within each subdivision set up over-the-top Christmas displays, but the annual contest allows residents the chance to come together to decorate the entrance to their individual neighborhoods with rows of lights, life-sized Santas, angels, snowmen and other festive features. Competition was fierce, as one neighborhood changed its name “Penguin Place,” bumped Christmas carols from portable speakers and created a winter wonderland complete with falling snow. A panel of three impartial judges scored the displays in four categories: Creativity, Color/Material, Overall and Standout. The scores were then totaled and the subdivisions with the highest scores were recognized with yard signs denoting the winners.
The winners of the 2024 Walden Lake Decorating Contest are:
Grand Prize: Emerald Forest
1st Place: Hammocks
2nd Place: Fairway Estates
3rd Place: Aston Woods
4th Place: Silverstone
5th Place: Polo Place
Honorable Mention: Wedgewood
Honorable Mention: Forest Club