Portsmouth’s Neighborhood Holiday Lights Contest Returns for 2021

Portsmouth is bringing back its Neighborhood Holiday Lights contest for a second year during the 2021 holiday season.

Up for grabs is a $500 gift certificate from Lowe’s, Home Depot or Ricci Lumber for the top three winners with $25 gift cards for the runner-ups.

Light displays will be judged in three categories: Traditional Light Display, Creative Light Display and Kids’ Choice. The judges will be school-aged children driven through neighborhoods that are not their own between Dec. 11 and 19. A map of all the displays will also be made available for all to tour.

The first lights contest was during the 2020 Halloween season which was continued during the Christmas season.

“The mayor was inspired by the extra effort residents made in last year’s Holiday Lights Contest to make the season bright and fun for kids of all ages. Now more than ever, an outdoor holiday lights contest will inspire residents to bring a little joy to Portsmouth neighborhoods through their holiday displays," Portsmouth Citywide Neighborhood Committee transitional chair Larry Cataldo said.

The deadline to enter is December 10, 2021 on the city website.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH