Those planning to decorate a window this holiday season for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest in downtown Great Bend have a week left to sign up! Participants must submit their application by 5 p.m. on Nov. 11 to be included in the judging. They must complete decorating by noon on Nov. 21, and judging for the window decorations will run from Nov. 22 – Dec. 2.
Those interested in participating in the Christmas Window Decorating Contest may access rules and an application form at SantasAroundTheWorld.com/ window-contest; there they have the option to complete an electronic application or print and mail in the application. They may also contact Anna at 620-793-5888 to receive an application form.
As with the past two holiday seasons, $3,000 is up for grabs in prize money for the Christmas Window Decorating Contest in downtown Great Bend, but this year provides an exciting new element to the event. The top prize of $1,500 is now a People’s Choice award, which allows the public to choose the ‘Best Christmas Window’ with their collective winning popular vote.
Ballots and a voting box will be available in front of Rosewood Bargain Barn, 1215 Main Street, Great Bend. Details of the voting process will be provided as the holiday season draws closer.
In addition to the top prize, the contest will provide a Judges 1st Place award that will pay $1,000 in prize money. The Judges 2nd Place award winner will earn $500 in prize money. A panel of community members will judge the windows for second and third prizes. Boundaries for the window-decorating contest cover 10th to 18th Streets, and from Williams to Kansas Streets in Great Bend.
There are no fees to enter, but participants are responsible for the cost of their decorations. Downtown business owners are encouraged to enter the contest, as well as those individuals who would like to become window decorators.
Applicants who do not have a store window to decorate will be assigned a vacant window in downtown Great Bend, based on availability. Independent decorators also have the option to coordinate with a business owner for window decorating.
The ‘Christmas Window Decorating Contest’ is organized by the Rosewood Roots & Wings Santa Committee that also is associated with ‘Santas Around The World,’ the multicultural holiday exhibit, which opens each Christmas season in downtown Great Bend.