In some ways, the entire population of Gypsum is the real winner of the town's 17th annual Holiday Lights Contest.
After all, the contest always results in bright displays for everyone to see.
Competition was stiff this year, with the grand prize decided by half a point, said Dawn Ritts, Gypsum's special projects coordinator.
“There were over 10 contest judges and their choices were averaged to find the various area and overall winners,” Ritts said.
Ultimately, out of the 46 entries — about twice as many as last year — the Hughes family's display at 160 Talus in Sky Legend won the free night in a suite at the AmericInn, a $250 value.
“All together, the lights took about 10 or 12 hours over about four days to set up,” said Jeremy Hughes, who shares the home with his wife and two children, ages 7 and 2. “My daughter is thrilled.”
Hughes said they have participated in the contest for the last two years and have previously won best display for the Cotton Ranch area.
Grand Prize Runner-up and Grand Prize Second Runner-up were 660 Grundel Way and 120 Price Place, respectively.
“Aircraft flying in from the west or southwest have probably attempted to land at 160 Talus or 760 Valley Road,” Ritts joked about some well-lit displays that contended for top honors. The latter address won the Clark Grizwold award.
Ironically, winner for Best Use of LED lights, Bob Heckendorf, is a corporate pilot who just returned from Mexico when he found out he won a prize.
“This was kind of a Christmas present for my wife — I hired some help to put up the lights,” Heckendorf said. “Even though I'm a pilot I'm acrophobic. I get up on the second step of a ladder and it's like, ‘Oh, I don't know about this.'”
Ritts was pleased with this year's participation.
“We really appreciate all the people in town who hung lights,” she said. “Be it one strand or a hundred, your efforts have made our town a festive place to spend the holidays!”
Better than ever
A total prize value of $1,000 was doled out among 12 winners (see info box).
“The prizes are really good this year,” said Jennifer Kirkland, who won the Clark Grizwold award last year with her husband. “When I saw the list of prizes it made me extra bummed I couldn't do it this year.”
The Kirklands are looking at moving to a new home in Gypsum and didn't put up Christmas lights this year in order to save themselves some extra packing.
“The prizes were good last year, but they're better than ever this year,” Kirkland said. “I never did it for the prize, though. I've always loved lights.”
Serious about lights
Kirkland loves Christmas lights so much that she is considering the potential for light displays as she shops for a new home.
“The house has to have good, clean lines, steep peaks … I'm pretty picky,” she said.
Kirkland also shops for new lights each year after Christmas, when they're on sale. She's been building her collection for years and recently went to all LED lights. Many others are doing the same.
Lit up on LEDs
LED (pronounced L-E-D) is short for “light-emitting diode.” Such lights are noted for their small size, brightness and energy efficiency. According to news reports from across the country, LEDs have been gaining popularity in recent years for all kinds of uses, especially Christmas lights. Even the famous Rockefeller Tree in New York City has been decorated with LEDs since 2008.
“One good trend we have seen this year is the transition from traditional to LED lights,” Ritts said. “More and more homes seem to be using the energy efficient LED strands and that is great to see.”
Heckendorf said he switched to the new lights three years ago.
“They're so much less expensive and they run forever,” he said. “LEDs have a different texture to them, too.”
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