Area families enjoyed the first weekend of “Light Up Our City” and a winner of the hidden letter contest has been named. Karyn Burns has won a free Card My Yard service in 2023, courtesy of Bridgeport Card My Yard.

 

Along with Chelsea Shaw, Alicia Hundley and nieces Carigan and Cadence Hayes, Burns correctly solved the holiday word, “Believe,” after spotting letters placed throughout the Light Up Our City route.

 

Though the word contest is over, the decorating contest has just begun. Wednesday, Dec 7, the first “Sleighed It” award will be placed in a yard that impresses this year’s judges. The recipient of that award will be in the running for the grand prize of $300 cash, courtesy of the Associated Businesses of Bridgeport and Connect-Bridgeport. On Dec. 14 and 21, “Sleighed It” awards will be placed, and the grand prize winner announced Dec. 21.

 

More and more residents are coming on board to be part of the effort. Some share their reasons for lighting up their homes for the holidays.

 

“Decorating helps to get our kids and us into the Christmas spirit. We love how the lights brighten and warm the otherwise dark and cold wintry nights,” said Jamie and Melissa Parker, who won the grand prize in 2021 “A lot of time and planning does go into decorating, but when we see people walking or driving by, and they stop to comment about how much they love the decorations or how much their kids or grandkids love looking at our house, it makes it all worth it.”

 

The Worthington Drive yard of the Linch family is filled with holiday inflatables, which delight their 5-year-old daughter Reagan – and hundreds of other children.

 

“We really enjoy decorating our house for the kids. Reagan loves Christmas so much and has always loved Christmas blow-ups, so my husband and I decided to put a bunch up for everyone to enjoy with us,” said Tara Linch. “Reagan loves watching people drive by and look at our lights We sit in the window every night leading up to Christmas and enjoy seeing all the cars.”

 

The Owens family is also new to Bridgeport’s Light Up Our City program. Jessie Owens said they love spreading the spirit of Christmas and they start Nov 1 decorating the interior and exterior of their Third Street home.

 

“To me there is nothing better than seeing a brightly lit Christmas tree or house at Christmas time,” she said. “My family and I have always done Christmas light drives and I want to have a house that makes others smile when they drive by and be excited about Christmas.”

 

The Owens’ style is typically traditional.

 

“We use lots of warm lights, pine, and red and green,” Jessie said. “I love buying vintage and antique Christmas items to decorate with. I love seeing everyone’s houses decorated for Christmas and I hope others enjoy ours as well.”

 

Find the Light Up Our City map HERE. Get listed on the map by emailing julie@connect-bridgeport.com.