Each year we like to take one night to go look at other peoples Christmas lights and decorations, and this year is no exception.
We loaded up the car, got the Christmas music playing, and pulled out our map of the Canajoharie-Palatine Bridge Chamber Decorating Contest contestants and headed out on our way.
It’s an old family tradition of mine, started by my parents, that we would drive around and give a rating of each house based on a 1-10 scale, so we were well prepped in judging for the contest.
We drove leisurely from house to house, including a lot that were not participating in the contest, but still had beautifully decorated homes.
We kept our list this year, instead of our usual calling out ratings and why the houses ranked on our personal scale (theme, use of lights, quantity and quality of light placements…etc.) we also logged each rating.
After driving the residential areas, we then parked the car downtown and walked the streets of the village of Canajoharie. Many businesses have gone all-out with the decorations, and the village had a great holiday feel to it.
We ranked the businesses as well, said ‘Hi’ to old friends we ran into downtown, then picked up dinner at a local restaurant and headed home.
We sat by our Christmas tree discussing all the wonderful lights and displays we saw as we ate our dinner.
It was another wonderful year of our holiday tradition, and it was great to see so many people participating in the Lighting Contest, and many other homes and businesses who decorated without joining any contest.
Here are some photos I took of the many lights and displays throughout Canajoharie and Palatine Bridge. I strongly suggest you go out and see them yourselves, they always look better in person!
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
People’s Choice judging ends at 3pm today, and you can vote at Dutchtown Ace Hardware in Palatine Bridge, Picture Perfect in Canajoharie, by calling 518-673-4434, or emailing info@canajohariepalatinechamber.com. Winners will be announced exclusively in the Courier-Standard-Enterprise, available on newsstands this Thursday.
Just received an email, Voting has been extended to 8pm tonight!
Tags: Canajoharie, Contest, Light, Palatine Bridge, Photos
I think it’s great that you go out with your family & do this sort of thing. It’s the simple things in life that bring the most joy. God Bless you.
You reminded me how much fun we used to have as a kid just driving around admiring the lights. You have inspired me to see them for myself tonight. Thank you
I hope the Chamber does this again next year & I hope it grows every year as more people become aware & decide to particapate. The whole idea is inspiring & full of Christmas spirit.
I thought several in the contest did not have a very big display.
I wasn’t focusing on what wasn’t there, I was focusing on the effort each house put in & the joy it brings, especially to children.
thanks so much for helping the chamber promote our contest.Wish there had been morepictures. Really enjoy working with you.
Had trouble voting, so many beautiful displays! And some that weren’t even in the contest that I would have voted for!
Congrats Eagles on winning the Peoples Choice award! I always love seeing the displays you guys put up all the time, such a nice touch to downtown!
Awesome, I love their windows! I cant find the Courier online though, who else won the other categories?