Presented by Pell City Parks & Recreation
The 2024 season of “Lights in the Park” is fast approaching, and the Pell City Parks & Recreation Department is preparing for it’s biggest year yet as it looks to add an exciting new feature – Awards!
WHAT’S NEW, YOU ASK? AWARDS and RECOGNITION!
In 2024, community displays will be judged on their creativity and quality, and special recognition will go to the winners. Not only will attendees of the 2024 Lights in the Park be invited to vote on their favorite displays, but a panel of independent judges will also be assembled to vote on several categories from among all participants.
The winners will be recognized in a variety of ways, which means it is more important than ever for your organization to be a part of this community event.
Judges will vote for “BEST OVERALL – JUDGE’S CHOICE”. There will be nine additional categories for the general public to vote on. Voting will be done by scanning a QR code and selecting one choice from the categories listed below:
- Silent Night Award – Simple and clean display
- White Christmas Award – Best use of white lights
- Deck the Halls Award – Most over-the-top use of lighting
- Christmas is in the Air Award – Best use of inflatables
- The Reason for the Season Award – Best Nativity display
- Holly Jolly Christmas Award – Best display that makes you laugh
- Rock Around the Christmas Tree Award – Best use of animation
- The Rudolph Award – Best use of holiday characters
- Christmas Story Award – Best youth inspired display
Voting will begin the first lighting day of our event, Friday, November 29th and end at 9pm Thursday, December 19th. Signs with a QR code will be distributed throughout the park. Visitors will use their mobile phone cameras to scan the code, which takes them directly to our poll. Winners in each category receive:
- Award signs placed next to each winning display, which will remain onsite throughout the duration of the event.
- Winners will be recognized on the “The City of Pell City” Facebook page, as well as the “Pell City Civic Center/Lakeside Park/SplashPad/Pickleball Courts” Facebook page.
- All winners will be recognized in January’s digital editions of Discover and LakeLife24/7 magazines AND, also featured in print in the February 2025 issue of LakeLife 24/7.
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- Nov. 15-29: Display Setup Period
- Nov. 29 – Dec. 31: Official Lighting Dates
- Jan. 8, 2025: Required Display Removal Date
The above map indicates the assigned display locations for Lights in the Park 2024.
UPDATED GUIDELINES ON DISPLAYS:
- Participation is free; no costs or fees apply.
- Participants will be notified of their assigned locations the first week of November.
- Your display must be lighted using “Outdoor Lights” ONLY, as they are more resistant to wet and freezing conditions.
- You must set up your own display, and FIRMLY secure all parts to the ground.
- You must provide your own extension cord. Only one electrical connection will be allotted per display. (Parks Maintenance staff turns all displays on/off each night.)
- Your display must include decorations depicting a holiday scene or theme. All displays must have more components than just a sign/banner and a figure or inflatable.
- The displays are exposed to extreme weather conditions therefore, you must make sure yours is constructed from weather resistant materials.
- Wrap your extension cord receptacle in water resistant plastic to prevent shorts.
SPECIAL NOTICE: THE CITY OF PELL CITY AND THE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSS OF PROPERTY OR DAMAGE TO ANY DISPLAYS WHILE ON CITY PROPERTY. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THE REMOVAL OF ANY DISPLAY THAT DETERIORATES TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL.
Please direct any questions to Valerie Painter by email, vpainter@cityofpellcity.net. or call 205-338-3818, ext. 1.