W’burg offering prizes in business decorating contest, Christmas parade floats

Christmas.

A chance to make some money.

Do we have your attention yet?

Williamsburg officials want you to get into the holiday spirit, and they are willing to give many groups the chance to make some money in the process.

Whether you represent a downtown Williamsburg business, a school, a church, a school choir or a school band there is a chance for you to make some money.

A downtown business could win up to $500 in prize money if the business is judged the best Christmas decorated business in Williamsburg.

If you belong to a church, a school, or a business and have a neat parade float idea, then you have the chance to win up to $150 in prize money.

If you represent a school choir or band, then your group can make $200 for just participating in the 2021 City of Williamsburg – Feels Like Home Christmas In A Small Town Parade, which is slated to take place Saturday, Dec. 11.

“We want Williamsburg’s downtown and around the city to look like a ‘Hallmark’ Christmas. This is where you guys come in. We want our citizens and visitors to want to (and be able to) drive through our great city and feel that Christmas spirit and be filled with pride for Williamsburg!” Mayor Roddy Harrison wrote in a recent letter to businesses and business owners asking them to decorate for Christmas.

“If you are unable to decorate yourself, but you would like to participate, your building can be adopted by a civic, church, or school group, and that organization will be responsible for decorating your building. We are hoping that every single one of our building owners will choose to participate by decorating themselves or allowing their building to be adopted.”

There will be a $500 first place prize, a $300 second place prize, and a $200 third place prize for the best decorated business.

Those interested in participating in the decorating contest can call (606) 549-0530.

Parade deadline soon

For those interested in taking part in the parade, you must submit an entry form to the Williamsburg Tourism Office, which is next to Arby’s, by Wednesday, Dec. 1. You must have an entry form on file in order to be in the parade, and a representative from the organization must attend one of two planning meetings, which are set for Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Williamsburg Tourism Center.

There are three categories for floats in the parade: church, business and school with each category judged and awards given out for first, second and third place. The first place winner in each category receives $150, second place gets $100 and third place gets $50.

Each school band and choir will also receive $200 for participating in the parade.

“The theme for this year’s Christmas parade and decorating contest is ‘It’s a Peppermint Christmas,’” Harrison said Monday afternoon.

“Businesses will be doing something related to their business and tie it in with the theme. It could be a drink. It could be cookies. It could be a sale on certain things,” Harrison added about the decorating contest theme.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 and will take place along Main Street starting at the city school and concluding in front of the old courthouse.

Post parade events

After the parade, there will be a number of events at Bill Woods Park, including the annual town Christmas ornament exchange, decorating of the town Christmas tree with memorial ornaments, and free apple cider or hot chocolate.

In order to take part in the ornament exchange, simply bring an ornament to Bill Woods Park with your name written somewhere on the ornament or its package so people will know whose ornament that they are getting.

Then you take an ornament that someone else has left.

“It is a way to connect with somebody you may or may not know,” Harrison added.

Memorial ornaments should include the name of the person that the memorial ornament is being left for. It will then be placed on the city Christmas tree.

“We save those every year, and put them back up. I have the box in my office right now,” Harrison noted.

Residential decorating contest

Also, during post parade festivities at Bill Woods Park, Harrison will announce the winners of the annual Williamsburg Feels Like Home residential Christmas decorating contest.

Sorry, there are no cash prizes for this one, but winners do receive a yard sign to display in their yard, and more importantly bragging rights until next year’s contest.

In the residential division, there will be three categories, including: traditional, modern traditional and “bling bling.” In regards to the “bling bling” category, think Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

In addition, there will be a best-decorated door award given out in the residential division and there will be an award given out for the best decorated neighborhood.

There is also a business division with two categories, traditional and modern traditional.

“Me and the judges will scout the whole town. If you really don’t want to take a chance of being missed, call the tourism office at 549-0530, and tell Nicki to put you on the list for the decorating contest, and we will make sure the judges come by,” Harrison added.

New event

On Saturday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m., there will be a new event in downtown Williamsburg at River Fog Park, which is located at the intersection of Main Street and Third Street.

The “Hanging of the Greens” will involve placing a wreath at the park stage. The town Christmas lights will then be lit along Main Street.

“It is going to be a time to get together to kick off the Christmas season,” Harrison explained.

There will also be vendors set up at the park that evening.