Holiday Light and Decoration Contest

The City of Signal Hill will kick-off its first ever Holiday Light and Decoration Contest. Signal Hill residents and business owners will be encouraged to feature their home or business by applying and highlighting their holiday spirit. 

ENTER HERE Starting Monday, November 17, 2025 

OFFICIAL ENTRY RULES

The 2025 Holiday Home & Business Decoration Contest (“Decoration Contest”) submission of contest entries commences on Monday, November 17, 2025 and ends Monday, December 8, 2025. 

In order to enter the Decoration Contest, contestants must agree to the Official Entry Rules herein. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to abide by these Official Rules. Please note the contest is free to enter and open to residences and businesses physically located within the City of Signal Hill.

Competition Categories:

• Signal Hill Business
  • Best Business Holiday Spirit Award: Most eye-catching holiday display by a business.  This can include window displays, as long as they are visible from the street or public thoroughfare.
• Single Home Signal Hill Residence
  • Showstopper Award: A show-stopping display full of festive flair and creativity that best captures the magic of the holidays.
  • Light Up the Neighborhood Award: Best use of outdoor lights and other visual display items.
• Signal Hill Group of Homes, Residences or Block
  • Best Neighborhood Effort Award: Best display of cohesive holiday spirit or demonstration of a neighborhood working together on visual displays. There must be a minimum of three (3) houses or residences that are on the same street. Condos, Townhomes, and Apartment Balconies are welcome to enter.

Important Dates:

How to Enter:

• To enter the Decoration Contest you can submit your photos (optional) and applications through the online portal which opens on November 17, 2025.
• Photos are not mandatory, but are strongly encouraged to help judges identify your home/busines.
• Entries must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025.
• All required fields of the City of Signal Hill 2025 Holiday Light & Decoration Contest Application must be completed.
• If you are applying for multiple contest categories, complete a separate form to apply for each one (1. Signal Hill Business, 2. Signal Home Signal Hill Residence, and 3. Signal Hill Group of Homes.) 

Rules:

• The address of all entries for any home or business must be within the City of Signal Hill.
• Contestants must be 18 years older. 
• The City reserves the right to disqualify entries for any reason. 
• This contest is for amateur residents to express their creativity, and professionally decorated homes may not be entered. 
• Contest is limited to decorations and/or lights that can be seen from the street side of the premises at night. Interior decorations will not be considered, unless than can be seen from a public thoroughfare.
• Contestants agree to have photos and/or videos of their decorated residence or business exterior posted on the City’s website and social media sites. 
• City will compile all contests entries and put together a map for community viewing of all homes and businesses.
• Photos/videos and addresses of entries may also be featured via various platforms including Signal Hill’s website, e-newsletter, social media pages, and/or City Views.
• All contestants will receive a yard sign indicating their participation in the 2025 Holiday Home & Business Decoration Contest.

Judging / Criteria: 

• Judging will take place between Tuesday, December 9, 2025 through Sunday, December 14, 2025.  Please have your lights and decorations on continuously from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. every night of this week.
• Judging will take place rain or shine. If your lights are not on, you will be subject to disqualification.
• Judging will be conducted by city staff and/or community members of Signal Hill. 
• Decisions of the judges will be final. 
• The following criteria will be used to evaluate all entries submitted:
  • Impact
  • Creativity
  • Lighting
  • Overall Presentation
  • Special Effects
  • Display and Placement

Winners: 

• One (1) contestant/entry will be selected as the winner for each award:
  • Best Business Holiday Spirit
  • Showstopper
  • Light Up Your Neighborhood
  • Best Neighborhood Effort
• Please note any entries submitted may be eligible to place and be recognized and featured based on the contest criteria per the City’s discretion.
• City staff will notify contest winners via phone and/or email using the contact information submitted with the entry.
• The contestants who have entries selected will be contacted no later than Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
• Winners will receive a specialized yard sign recognizing them as a winner and a special gift.

ENTER HERE Starting Monday, November 17, 2025