Driving or walking through neighborhoods at Christmastime to admire the lights and decor, often glittering reflected in snow, is a holiday tradition. Some people pride themselves on making their homes look festive, and the city’s contest was a chance for those residents to be recognized.

After the contest was announced encouraging residents to decorate their homes and be part of a holiday lights tour, with Dec. 15 as the sign-up deadline, eight homes registered to participate. The entries were judged by incoming City Manager Rob Spreitzer, Downtown Development Authority Chair Jay Bostwick and one Gladstone resident, Lisa Thomas.

Their choices are at 2714 Fourth Ave. W., which won first place; 914 Superior Ave., taking second; and 619 Dakota Ave. for third.

Other homes that participated are at 47 Sandy Lane, 518 Wisconsin Ave., 525 Dakota Ave., 711 N. 15th St. and 1316 Wisconsin Ave.

Flagged on the map are eight homes in Gladstone that signed up to be part of a holiday decorations tour. People can still find these festively lit homes in the community.

The decorating contest was sponsored by WPPI Energy, the member-owned utilities supplier of which Gladstone is a member along with 50 other communities throughout the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Iowa.

The top three received checks for $500, $300 and $200, respectively.

“This funding is available for all the locally owned utilities that make up WPPI to contribute to their communities throughout the year,” WPPI Communications Coordinator Bridget Cooke said. “WPPI is proud to have the collaboration of shared strength between member utilities as a means to sponsor events such as this, which highlights community members who proudly help Gladstone shine during the holiday season.”

People may wish to visit the homes that entered the challenge in Gladstone and find many other impressively decorated spots along the way, as well as in other communities.

A home on Gladstone's Dakota Avenue was one of three that won a prize in this year's the Holiday Home Decorating Contest. (Courtesy photo)