Businesses and homes are encouraged to begin stringing up their favourite decorations in time for Belco?s ninth annual Festival of Lights.

The annual event encourages communities to celebrate the winter season with a community competition that donates a significant sum of money to a local charity.

Belco announced that 13 winners will receive awards and have donations made to the locally registered charities of their choice in their names.

Belco and BF&M have pledged to donate a total of $10,250 to local charities on behalf of the Festival of Lights winners.

Entrants are urged this year to have a decorating theme whether focused on Christmas, New Year, Kwanzaa or Chanukah or Eid, the celebration held at the end of Ramadan, or anything else that sparks their creativity.

First, second, and third place residential winners will also be chosen in the East, West, and central parishes for a total of nine donations to charity valued at $1,000, $750, and $500 respectively (plus a $200 discount on their electricity bill).

Three commercial winners will be selected with one in the East, West, and Central parishes to have $1,000 donations made in their name.

One neighbourhood will also be selected to have a $500 donation made to a charity on their behalf (plus $200 for a community celebration). Residents who win together as a community will have worked cooperatively to decorate with a unified theme.

Entry forms can be picked up at Belco, BF&M, and a number of other businesses in and near Hamilton, and must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, December 10.

Judging will take place on Monday, December 13 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For more information contact coordinator Thania Redman at 299-2810.