Downtown Holiday Lights Contest 2025

Downtown Holiday Lights Contest 2025

Published on October 20, 2025

Bring holiday magic to downtown Gainesville

Downtown businesses, it's your time to shine! The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area invites local businesses to take part in the 2025 downtown holiday lights contest - a festive way to celebrate the season, attract visitors and brighten downtown Gainesville for the holidays.

Program Guidelines and Application Packet

Win $1,000 in one of three categories:

• Most creative: Imaginative designs that capture the magic of the holidays.
• Most extravagant: Big, bold and bright - a show-stopping display full of festive flair.
• Most sustainable: Eco-friendly and inventive, using upcycled or reused materials.

How it works:

• Eligibility: Open to any business within the Downtown Strategic Plan Focus Area that is open to the public between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m.
• Registration: Register online on or before Monday, Nov. 3.
• Decorating: Set up your holiday light display between Wednesday, Nov. 5 and Thursday, Dec. 4.
• Voting: Online voting runs from Saturday, Dec. 6, through Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
• Winners: Announced Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026.

A few things to know:

• Businesses must decorate their storefront window or façade (indoor decorations don't count).
• A minimum of seven businesses must register for the contest to take place.
• Once you've finished decorating, submit one photo of your storefront to GCRA by Dec. 4, 2025.
• See the contest rules and registration form for complete details.

• Arts & Culture
• Business & Economy
• GCRA