2025 Holiday Home Lighting Competition

Published on November 12, 2025

It's time to unwind...unwind your holiday lights, that is, because the Holiday Home Lighting Competition is back! We had a record number of entries last year and we hope to see more nominations roll in this year. Here's what you need to know:

Award Categories and Prizes

• 2 x Best Overall Winners (Individual Homes) - $100, yard sign, award from our sponsors, and certificate from the City Council
• 6 x Holiday Cheer Runner Up Awards (1 Individual Home per City Council District) - Yard sign and certificate from the City Council
• 2 x Neighborhood Spirit Awards (Group of Homes or Block) -Promoted invitation to the community to visit the Neighborhood Spirit winning homes with refreshments, yard sign, award from our sponsors and certificate from the City Council

Important Dates

• Sunday, December 7th, at 11:59PM - Deadline to submit nominations
• Wednesday, December 10th - Finalists and judging routes will be announced
• Thursday, December 11th between 6PM - 8PM - Judging of finalist homes

What's new?

This year, there will be two judging vehicles for more consistent timing of the routes and we'll be selecting 2 Neighborhood Spirit winners.

Questions?

Contact the Community Relations Team at pio@ci.salinas.ca.us or call 831-758-7407.

Sponsors

Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!

• Santa Lucia Rotary
• Steinbeck Real Estate & Mortgage 
• Salinas Downtown Rotary