Sikeston residents encouraged to enter Christmas decorating contest

SIKESTON — Sikeston residents will once again have the opportunity to decorate their yards for the holidays, with the possibility of winning the Third Annual Mayor’s Holiday Spirit Award.

The award will go to the best-decorated home and/or yard in Sikeston for the holiday season.

The winner will be chosen by Sikeston Mayor Greg Turnbow and members of the Tourism Advisory Board. 

Turnbow said the idea occurred three years ago while he and Sikeston City Manager Jonathan Douglass were discussing how to get the community more involved and how to get more people in the holiday spirit.

Turnbow said the city is working hard this year to spread the word about the event and is encouraging people to participate.

“As mayor, as I drive through town, I see a lot of houses that I go, ‘Why aren’t they in it?’” Turnbow said of the contest. “So we are trying to get the word out to everyone so they can participate and also to make it a festive event for Sikeston, and in hopes it creates community pride.

According to Turnbow, there are no decoration standards that a home has to meet in order to participate. 

“The decorations don’t have to be something really fancy,” Turnbow said.

Turnbow said they judge not only the decorations but also the home owner’s hard work and effort in decorating their home.

“Everybody has a chance to win,” Turnbow said. “We look at more than just the cost of the decorations; we also look at the theme and how much time and work they put into the decorations. It’s one of those things that doesn’t have to be the most expensive decorations.

Turnbow continued: “We want people to get involved, and once we see the hard work they put forward and the theme of their decorations, that all comes into play.”

According to Turnbow, the winner will be recognized on the city’s Facebook page and newsletter.  

“The winner has to be willing to also have their name, address and picture of their home shared on the City of Sikeston’s social media,” Turnbow said. 

The Christmas decoration contest winner will also receive a glass award to display in their home.

The Christmas decoration contest entry deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 11.

To nominate a home, send an email with the subject “Holiday Spirit Award” and the address to sikestonmayor@sikeston.org.