Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens hopes that all will be inspired to participate in a special contest for the community during Boothbay Festival of Lights. If you are a resident of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport or Edgecomb and your house or place of business is visible from a public roadway, you are eligible to win!

Decorate your home or business with creative lighting in a way that will welcome visitors to our community and add to the brilliance of the Boothbay Festival of Lights. Participants must enter by Nov. 29. Displays must be completely installed and lit nightly between the hours of 4-10 p.m. beginning no later than Dec. 1 and continuing through Dec. 31. Displays will be judged by a panel of community members and points will be given for originality, effective use of color, and overall impact when viewed from the nearest public roadway. Judges will consider residential and business displays with equal weight.

Participants must complete a short entry form to qualify for judging. This gives us your contact information, ensures you know and understand the contest rules, and gives the judges your address for viewing your display. There is no fee to enter. Entry forms must be postmarked by Nov. 29 to be eligible for judging. For entry forms and complete contest rules, visit www.GardensAglow.org and click on “Contest.” Forms will also be available at your town office. Awards will be announced at a special community showing of Gardens Aglow on Wednesday, Dec. 7. (Tickets are required for Community Night on Dec. 7. Please ask your local town office for more information.)

The first place winner will receive $2,500 plus 15 tickets to Gardens Aglow. Second place receives $1,000 plus ten tickets to Gardens Aglow, and third place will receive $500 plus five tickets to Gardens Aglow. Honorable mentions will receive five tickets to Gardens Aglow plus a gift basket.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is committed to the success of the Boothbay Festival of Lights, and anticipates that the community will welcome visitors to the region with open arms this winter.