Cindy McQuirter-Fairley is doing her part to help area residents check out the best of the Yuletide season.
For the second straight year, the local realtor has highlighted the efforts of homeowners with a penchant for Christmas lights and decorations.
"The homeowners put so much work into these displays for people to enjoy," McQuirter-Fairley said, noting the response has been really positive.
McQuirter-Fairley's initiative includes a map to help residents check out what their neighbours have been up to in the decorating department.
"It started with Halloween decorating, which a lot of people go all out for, I had so much fun seeing all the displays," she said.
"I enjoy Halloween, but I LOVE Christmas lights. So I decided to do a holiday display contest as well."
McQuirter-Fairley said the project really took off because people liked to have a site where they could find a specific route to follow and check out some amazing displays rather than just driving around randomly.
"There are some great displays in the country, which are not on people’s every day route so they get missed," she said.
"The homeowners put so much work into these displays. I love being able to drum up more people to enjoy their hard work and creativity. It is also a safe way to get in the holiday spirit with your family."
McQuirter-Fairley visits all of the displays with her family of people who enter the contest.
"We try to narrow it down to a manageable number for people to vote on," she said. "It was very difficult this year. I was supposed to have a top five, but I couldn’t narrow it down. There were some hot debates within my family, so I did a top 10 instead."
From there, McQuirter-Fairley posts a video of the top 10 on her Facebook page, which allows people to check out the displays and then vote on their favourite.
"I encourage everyone to go see the displays themselves as my video can not do some of the displays justice," she said. "Voting closes after a few days and we have a winner of the 'Battle of the Bulbs.'
"However, on the map I provide, it shows all the great displays of people who entered the contest as well as other amazing displays I see when I am driving around or as suggested by other people in the comments section of my Facebook page. I hope everyone gets out and enjoys the magic of the holiday season this year.
"Go Griswold or Go home!"
