Lighting up Lincoln for the holidays

Lincoln is lighting up as businesses and homes get into the holiday spirit. For many, beautifying the town this holiday season is its own reward, but for a few lucky winners, holiday cheer will give back, in the form of a cash prize.

Back by popular demand after a year's hiatus, Light up Lincoln is a decorating contest sponsored by the Lincoln Valley Chamber of Commerce that offers cash prizes to first, second, and third place winners in both business and home categories.

LVCC president Laurie Richards said the Chamber hosts the contest to bring the Christmas spirit to the streets of Lincoln.

"We want people to drive through and see all of the Christmas lights and Christmas cheer," she said.

The contest, which made its debut in 2013, was scrapped last year due to a perceived lack of interest. However, after several inquiries, the Chamber is bringing it back in 2018.

"We heard a lot of people saying, 'why didn't you do it,' because they really enjoyed the contest," Richards said.

Richards said she thinks the cash prizes sponsored by the Chamber are a nice perk, but that most people who enter the contest aren't in it for the money.

"It probably costs people more money just to buy the decorations and...decorate for Christmas, yet I think it's just a fun thing to do, and to have people drive around and see the Christmas lights," she said. "I don't think it's a money-driven thing."

2016 business category winner, Kristin Birkholz, who owns Coyote Coffee with her husband Aaron, said they've decorated every year since they bought the business, even before the contest began.

"Aaron is the Clark Griswold," she said.

"We're not doing it for the money," Aaron Birkholz said. "I've always wanted to do it wherever I lived, I just never had the lights. So now every year I just buy some more lights and add to it."

The Birkholz's lights run on a computerized system that synchs the lights to the music piped outside of their coffee stand.

"I wish more people would do it," Aaron said. "What would be really cool is if everyone on the main strip would buy a system like mine. They could link them and then the whole town could...have their lights go to the music."

Birkholz said he rented a lift to decorate the 65-foot tree by his house this year, but the lift wasn't tall enough.

"We're hoping to have it lit up really good next year," he said. "I'm working on it. I still have 5000 more lights to put up."

Your home or business does not have to be located on Highway 200 to enter the Light up Lincoln contest, but to be considered you do have to formally enter by submitting your information to the Chamber. Entry is free, and entry forms can be found in recent issues of the BVD. To enter, just fill out the form and drop it by the BVD, mail it to P.0. Box 985 or e-mail the information the entry form requests to [email protected].

LVCC Treasurer Erin Dey said so far six businesses and six residences have entered the contest, but she expects more to come as the holiday season really kicks into gear.

The contest will be judged Dec. 21 by three independent community members, who will base their decision on creativity, originality and use of lights. Winners will be notified the following day.

"The deadline is the nineteenth, so there's time, but it looks like there's already a lot of great decorations going up on Main Street," Richards said.

"It's looking beautiful so far," said Dey. "Let's be the town people get the best Christmas feelings from."