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.

“We’re hoping that by having the public be able to vote on the People’s Choice, it will get more people involved in the process, which might encourage more storefronts to participate, and that could get the community’s Christmas creativity flowing this year,” said the anonymous donor, who is putting up $3,000 in overall prize money, once again, for the three window awards. 

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.

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.

Winners will be announced on Dec. 5 through local media channels. Window displays must be family friendly, creative and festive. They will be judged on Originality, Workmanship, General Presentation, and Lights.

“I really love seeing the lights and the creativity from one year to the next,” said the donor. “I commend the businesses and decorators who have met the challenge the past few years. For me, Christmas was always a time to go all out for decorating. One year I’d do a pink tree and the next one I’d maybe do a Santa tree, and the next one maybe a blue tree. My mom gave me that wonderful habit of changing out my décor from year to year.

“I am so enthusiastic about Christmas,” continued the donor. “When I see people going all out in turning Great Bend into a Christmas City in our downtown and throughout the community, it just makes me so happy.” 

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. 

Those interested in participating in the Christmas Window Decorating Contest may access rules and an application form at SantasAroundTheWorld.com, or contact Anna at 620-793-5888 to receive an application form.