Four homes were chosen as the most beautifully decorated of 2022 in the annual contest, which began nine years ago.
Uniontown, PA - All votes have been counted and the judges made their decisions. Four Connellsville-area homes have been chosen as the most beautifully decked out in their holiday finery.
Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln announced the decisions Monday on his Facebook page. Winning first place was 915 Lawn Ave., followed by 708 Ridge Blvd., in second place. The home at 1523 W. Crawford Ave., came in third. With 921 votes, 205 N. 11th St., won the Community Choice award.
Lincoln said the city has been holding its home decorating contest for nine years.
“The first year I was mayor, I started the Halloween decorating contest and the Christmas home decorating contest,” he said. “It’s just a way to get people into the holiday spirit. It’s a fun little competition, and it doesn’t cost anything.”
Lincoln said another purpose behind the contests was to encourage residents and their families to get out and have a fun experience together, looking at lights and enjoying the holidays. “It’s just something nice to do during the winter because the winter can be dark and cold. It’s an excuse for them to do something fun,” Lincoln said.
Lincoln said over the years, he has gotten comments from people outside the Connellsville city limits who have been interested in entering the contest. “So last year, we decided to open it up to anyone that lived in the Connellsville ZIP code,” he said. “I’m glad that we got 13 homes. It’s a good number, and I was happy with it. Everyone did a really nice job on their decorating.”
Lincoln said the contest typically draws around 15 entrants, who call or email city administrative secretary Shelley Primus with their information and a photo of their home. Registration opened on Dec. 1 this year and closed on Dec. 16.
“Shelley does an amazing job with this, and with the city website and social media pages,” Lincoln said.
Each year, contest sponsors serve as judges and go to look at each home. This year, that duty fell to the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County TV.
“We never have any issues getting sponsors for the event,” Lincoln said. “Just having the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County TV be sponsors this year was very appreciated.”
Last year, Lincoln said, the city decided to get residents even more involved in the contest with an award category that is chosen by the people, rather than the judges. “We added the Community Choice award, where we upload pictures of homes (to Facebook), and whoever gets the most likes is the winner,” he said.
Lincoln said his original Facebook post on the contest reached thousands of people, with about 2,000 voting for their favorite home. “I try to spread everything positive about Connellsville and everything that’s going on here, and this is absolutely a positive for the city,” he said.
Lincoln said the Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County TV were set to visit winners on Wednesday to take photos and present them with their prizes – gift cards to local businesses that are members of the chamber. Lincoln said the prizes are donated each year by the sponsors.
In addition to their prizes, each winning home boasts a sign in the yard that will remain until after the new year. “It’s just a way to get people involved in something fun and keep them in the holiday spirit,” Lincoln said.
He said all the entries were beautiful. “The homes that won were definitely deserving, and I know they’re excited,” he said.
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.fayettecountypa.org.
Editor's Note: Photo attached and video available at www.youtube.com/@fayettecountypa.
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This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Rooker Kassimer, Public Relations Specialist, at 412-691-0262, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Jamie Rankin, Journalist, at 724-434-4486, jamierankin13@gmail.com.
