Olde Towne gearing up for holidays

Published 4:20 pm Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society is teaming up with the Olde Towne Association, the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas County Bicentennial Committee to host the 2nd Annual Christmas in Olde Towne home decorating contest.

“Christmas in Olde Towne is a celebration aimed at showing off Selma’s and the historic district’s beauty and holiday spirit,” a press release stated. “Selma’s Olde Towne Historic District is part of the largest contiguous historic districts in Alabama.”

Judging for the contest will take place between Dec. 9 and Dec. 13, when participating residents of the area will be judged on the uniqueness of their designs, how creatively they used lights and decorations and the overall curb appeal of the display.

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In an effort to not have to enter people’s properties, the organizers of the event will only be judging decorations visible from the road.

All lights, decorations and animations should be in place and activated between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The top three contestants will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 15 at the start of the “Santa Comes to Olde Towne” celebration, which is slated from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the headquarters of the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society on McLeod Street.

Winners will receive a cash prize and yard signs to recognize their festively-decorated homes.

Last year’s winners were Selma Avenue residents Norm and Jackie Trotter and Ty and Stacey Bennett, as well as Dallas Avenue resident Chad McEachern.

This year’s judges are Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society President George Bjelke, Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheryl Smedley and Olde Towne Association President David Tipmore.

“This contest allows residents of Olde Towne to make their beautiful homes even more lovely during the holidays,” Tipmore said.

For more information, contact Tipmore at dptipmore6349@gmail.com or B.J. Smothers at bjsmothers@bellsouth.net.