Battle Ground Festivals is hosting its first annual Holiday Window Wonderland storefront decorating contest this month to see which local business has the best holiday window decorations.
The winners will be decided by citizens and a panel of judges.
Some of the participating businesses include Kids Cloz, Lumos Hearth & Home, Literary Leftovers, Nest Vintage & Home Decor, and Finishing Touch LLC, according to Marilyn Moeser, contest judge and owner of Main Street Floral Company. A volunteer from Battle Ground Festivals will head to other various businesses in the city with information to see if they want to get involved in the contest as well.
The idea came out of Battle Ground Festivals’ desire to create more holiday-themed celebrations in the community.
“It seems like what the community really wants to see is more Christmas or holiday-related stuff,” said Moeser. “We thought it would be fun to get businesses involved.”
Because Moeser often decorates her store around the holidays, she approached Kendra Laratta, owner of Ink Ability and another judge and organizer of the event, to pitch the idea.
If the event succeeds, it will give the organization an incentive to create more holiday-themed events in the future.
The window decorating contest has a similar structure to the annual Trick-or-Treat Trail, where families visit different businesses to get candy.
Some stores that stand out are Finishing Touch LLC, which Moeser describes as “very festive,” with the same being said about Pacifically, You. Then there’s Kids Cloz, which is full of “all kinds of twinkle-lights.”
John Idsinga, a Keller Williams realtor, and Mayor Adrian Cortes will also judge the competition.
“For the window displays that we’ll be judging and that the mayor will be judging, those businesses will have to reach out to us and let us know they’re participating so we know whose windows to look at,” Moeser said. “As far as the people’s choice, how that’ll work is people can go to our website and vote for any business, whether they’re participating or not. Say if there’s a business with a window display someone likes that we’re not judging personally, someone in Battle Ground can still judge them. Our website designer will be able to track the votes and then we’ll decide based on that.”
There are three cash prizes of $250 that will go to the winners of people’s choice, one for the committee’s choice, and one for the mayor’s choice.
Moeser said the event has sparked a lot of curiosity and interest on social media. They’ve even had a few people reach out to thank them for hosting it.
“So far, we’ve gotten quite a bit of positive feedback, and I think people are excited that we’re doing this,” she said.
Moeser hopes the contest will bring more attention to local businesses. After opening her store 14 years ago, she said some people still don’t realize her business exists.
“Because of COVID, everybody is still anxious, but still wants to support local businesses, so I think this is a good opportunity to do that,” she said.
To vote, go online to battlegroundfestivals.com. The voting period closes on Dec. 19.
