The City of Nacogdoches Main Street Program was excited to partnerwith the Bert Rees Lighting contest and host the inaugural “Turning up the Lights” Downtown Lighting contest, with $4,000 up for grabs.
“We are so appreciate of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nine Flags Festival and City of Nacogdoches for working so hard to light up downtown every year,”said Main Street Director Sarah O’Brien. “We wanted to “turn up the lights”with our downtown merchants, businesses and property owners, and figured what better incentive than some cold hard cash.”
Seventeen downtowners entered the contest this year, which made for stiff competition for the Judges. Special thanks to Dr. Sally Ann Swearingen and SFA Interior Design students for volunteering to judge the contestants.
Merchants could compete in several categories: Window Displays, Building Lights and the Storefront category also known as the grand prize which is a combination of both Window Displays and Building Lights.
“The judges were so impressed with the variety of displays,”said O’Brien. The Main Street office has received several calls and notes complementing how wonderful all the lights downtown look this year. “ Credit also goes to the Convention & Visitors Bureau and City Maintenance department for “turning up the lights”downtown this year as well.”said O’Brien.
The 2014 Turn Up the Lights Winners are:
Storefront
1st Place: Greer's $750
2nd Place: Texas Size Bling $250 (pictured above)
Building Lights:
1st Place: G. Patterson Studio $750
2nd Place: Travis & Judy Clardy $250
Window Display:
1st Place: CBH Insurance $750
2nd Place: a TIE between CBTX and House of Traditions ($112.50 each)
Special thanks to all of our merchants who participated, the scores were very close.
Other participants include: CASA of Deep East Texas, Kim Crisp, Dollheads Salon,
Glass Castles, Heart of Texas, Handler Insurance, The Liberty Bell, Southern Belle
Boutique, Brick Street Antiques, and A Beautiful You Salon and Spa.
Proceeds from the Nacogdoches Main Street Downtown Wine Swirl were used to
fund the contest.
All downtown participants have the chance to vie for another $1,000 during the Bert Rees Christmas Lighting Contest fan favorite contest.
All of the “Turn Up the Lights”contestants downtown are entered and waiting for your vote. From December 15th-19th folks can vote for their favorite display via social media. Simply vote on facebook @ChristmasCelebration during the contest. $1,000 will be awarded to the downtown Fan Favorite and downtown merchant Rees Jewelry has sponsored the citywide category which will take home a $500 cash prize.
The general public is encouraged to come downtown at night and enjoy all of the Christmas lights. You can also check out photos on facebook on the @NacogdochesMainStreet page courtesy of Jessica Tinker-Ayers.
For more information on the Bert Rees Lighting contest or the Nine Flags Christmas Festival, call the Nacogdoches Convention & Visitors Bureau at 936-564-74351 or visit
www.nineflagsfestival.com. For more information on downtown contact the Nacogdoches Main Street Office at 936-559-2573 or email
obriens@ci.nacogdoches.tx.us.
