Paris, Tenn.–The Historic Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Association invites the community to drive through their festive streets and view the winners and contenders of the Neighborhood’s First Annual Lighting Contest. Displays will be up through New Year’s Day.
Four trophies were awarded to the winners:
Best Decorated House – John and Leigh Watkins at 509 Dunlap Street
Best Yard – Sara Daily and Pat Boone at 407 Jackson Street
Best Front Porch – Heather and James Painter, along with children Blake Andrews, Brandon Chapman and Leighann Painter, and nephews Drake Tharpe and Ashton Chase at 206 Blakemore Street.
Judges’ Choice – Dr. Dennis and Leigh Wieck and daughter Libby Wieck at 316 Head Street
And a special award for Best Decorated Street went to Head Street. Association President Ed Roberts said, “They went all out. From lighted bottle trees to lighted roosters and traditional displays, they have it all, including music.”
“It was an exciting first year,” Contest Chair Susan Jones said. “We wanted to do something special for the community to enjoy, and neighbors responded by hanging thousands of lights. Some hung one strand, some hung hundreds, but the message is the same, ‘We wish all who stroll or drive through our neighborhood a wonderful Christmas.’”
Judging was Friday night, and on Saturday night, several HAPNA members walked the neighborhood to award trophies and visit with the winners, according to Jones, who said that visiting with the winners was a real treat.
“Dr. Wieck began decorating with lights while in residency in West Virginia. He begins prepping in September and starts hanging lights and programming them in October,” she said.
“Our neighbors on Blakemore had a touching story. Heather Painter is a sitter, and noticed her client’s neighbor putting Halloween and Christmas decorations out onto the street in boxes. The man’s girlfriend had died, and he didn’t have the heart to decorate anymore. Heather brought the lights and blow up decorations home and put them up. When she received the trophy, she said that it was ‘a tribute to that gentleman and his girlfriend who loved Christmas so much.’”
“This was a fun contest because it was so simple,” explained Roberts. “Three out-of-town judges, a neighborhood full of lights and four trophies.”
The lighting contest was such a success that the board plans to add several more categories for 2018, according to Jones. “We are considering including Most Whimsical, Most Traditional, Less Is More and the Clark Griswold Award for Excessive Lighting.
Photos: Dr. Weick accepts the award for Judges’ Choice; Susan Jones takes a photo of Pat Boone and Sara Dailey who won Best Yard; and Ed and Vickey Roberts and Susan Jones wait to present the Watkins family their award. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
“It was an exciting first year,” Contest Chair Susan Jones said. “We wanted to do something special for the community to enjoy, and neighbors responded by hanging thousands of lights. Some hung one strand, some hung hundreds, but the message is the same, ‘We wish all who stroll or drive through our neighborhood a wonderful Christmas.’”
Judging was Friday night, and on Saturday night, several HAPNA members walked the neighborhood to award trophies and visit with the winners, according to Jones, who said that visiting with the winners was a real treat.
“Dr. Wieck began decorating with lights while in residency in West Virginia. He begins prepping in September and starts hanging lights and programming them in October,” she said.
“Our neighbors on Blakemore had a touching story. Heather Painter is a sitter, and noticed her client’s neighbor putting Halloween and Christmas decorations out onto the street in boxes. The man’s girlfriend had died, and he didn’t have the heart to decorate anymore. Heather brought the lights and blow up decorations home and put them up. When she received the trophy, she said that it was ‘a tribute to that gentleman and his girlfriend who loved Christmas so much.’”
“This was a fun contest because it was so simple,” explained Roberts. “Three out-of-town judges, a neighborhood full of lights and four trophies.”
The lighting contest was such a success that the board plans to add several more categories for 2018, according to Jones. “We are considering including Most Whimsical, Most Traditional, Less Is More and the Clark Griswold Award for Excessive Lighting.
Photos: Dr. Weick accepts the award for Judges’ Choice; Susan Jones takes a photo of Pat Boone and Sara Dailey who won Best Yard; and Ed and Vickey Roberts and Susan Jones wait to present the Watkins family their award. (Shannon McFarlin photos).