Holiday Decorating Contest - 2019 - Old Towne Preservation Association

2019 Old Towne Orange Holiday Decorating Contest!!

And the Winners are...

Most Beautiful ~ 258 North Center
Most Old Fashioned ~ 714 East Maple
Best Use of Lights ~ 339 East Palmyra
Most Original ~ 305 East Palmyra
Most Whimsical ~ 536 East Maple
Best Block ~ 200 Block of North Pine
Honorable Mention ~ 300 Block of South Pixley
Most Festive (Commercial) ~ 480 North Glassell ~ The Arco Station!

We have several honorable mentions as well -- They are:

157 North Pine ~ Honorable Mention for Whimsical
229 North Pine ~ Honorable Mention for Whimsical
331 South Pixley ~ Honorable Mention for Original
473-475 South Lemon ~ Honorable Mention for Best Use of Lights

Note: Orange icons above are in Old Towne; Maroon icons are category winners; Green icons are Honorable Mention. Blue icons are outside of the Old Towne Orange judging area, but photos are included for your viewing enjoyment!

Photos Courtesy of Will Hare - Will Hare Photography

Our Judges and Their Tricked-Out Van Hard at Work! Click to Enlarge!

Most Beautiful - 258 N Center St

Most Old Fashioned ~ 714 East Maple

Best Use of Lights ~ 339 East Palmyra

Most Original ~ 305 East Palmyra

Most Whimsical ~ 536 East Maple

Best Block ~ 200 Block of North Pine

Honorable Mention ~ 300 Block of South Pixley

Most Festive (Commercial) ~ 480 North Glassell ~ The Arco Station!

Awards Ceremony

Honorable Mention
(Click Photos to Enlarge)

473 S Lemon St

331 S Pixley St

157 N Pine St

229 N Pine St

2019 Nominations / Photos

Note: Some of the homes/decorations displayed below are outside of Old Towne Orange; So while not eligible for the contest, we want to acknowledge the owners' hard work and enthusiasm in decorating their homes -- and we encourage you to drive by and take a look! Happy Holidays!

2018 Old Towne Orange Holiday Decorating Contest!!

Old Towne Preservation Association Announces Awards!

2018 Most Beautiful

The Old Towne Preservation Association has announced winners of its 31st annual Spirit of Old Towne Holiday Decorating Contest recognizing seven categories of imaginative Christmas and seasonal home and business decorations throughout the historic district of Orange. Thanks to all who decorated! Photos to follow!

The 2018 winners - Photos Below!

Most Beautiful: 225 South Olive
Most Old Fashioned: 604 W. Palmyra
Best Use of Lights: 376 S. Olive
Most Original: 552 E. Palmyra
Most Whimsical: 151 N. Pine
Best Block: 200 Block of N. Pine
Honorable Mention: 536 E. Maple
Most Festive (Commercial) Citrus City Grille – 122 N. Glassell

2018 Most Whimsical

Judges toured in a decorated van on Saturday, December 15. The public is invited to attend the award ceremony at 7:00 pm on Sunday, December 16 on the Best Block at 200 N Pine St! Winners will be presented theme yard signs designating their award title. The program will include caroling by the magnificent Orange High School choir and Hot Chocolate and Christmas cookies will be served!

OTPA’s Contest Committee Chair Vickie Laughlin said “the holidays are always memorable in Old Towne and we’re proud that so many of these charming historic homes and business structures are decorated to reflect the spirit of the season and of Old Towne.”

She added that touring Old Towne to see the winners makes a great family outing each night from now through the holidays. “The colorful lighting and displays throughout Old Towne are warm reflections of this wonderful season, and an exciting evening tour for all ages.”

Photos Below Courtesy of Will Hare, Will Hare Photography, Inc.

Best Block - 200 N Pine St

Best Block - 200 North Pine St - Click to Enlarge

Most Beautiful - 225 S Olive St

Most Beautiful - 225 S Olive St - Click to Enlarge

Most old fashioned - 604 W Palmyra Ave

Most Old Fashioned - 604 W Palmyra Ave - Click to Enlarge

Best Use of Lights - 376 S Olive St

Best Use of Lights - 376 S Olive St - Click to Enlarge

Most Original - 552 E Palmyra Ave

Most Original - 552 E Palmyra Ave - Click to Enlarge

Most Whimsical - 151 N Pine St

Most Whimsical - 151 N Pine St - Click to Enlarge

Honorable Mention - 536 E Maple St

Honorable Mention - 536 E Maple St - Click to Enlarge

Most Festive (Commercial) Citrus City Grille – 122 N. Glassell

Most Festive (Commercial) Citrus City Grille - 122 N Glassell St - Click to Enlarge

Decorated Homes Photos Submitted by the Old Towne Orange Community - 2018

320 S Pixley - Click to Enlarge

473 S Lemon St - Click to Enlarge

344 S Orange St - Click to Enlarge

345 N Lime St - Click to Enlarge

331 S Pixley St - Click to Enlarge

604 W Palmyra Ave - Click to Enlarge

139 N Parker St - Click to Enlarge

167 N Cambridge St.

376 S Olive St - Click to Enlarge

404 S Pixley - Click to Enlarge

225 S Olive St - Click to Enlarge

119 W Palmyra - Click to Enlarge

231 N Orange St (above) - Click to Enlarge

355 N Pine St

1431 N Shaffer St (Outside of Old Towne) - Click to Enlarge

2017 Holiday Decorating Contest Winners!

The 30th Annual Old Towne Holiday Decorating Contest lit up the historic district as Old Towne became a nightly holiday buffet of spectacular yule presentations in sight and sound.

The contest is conducted by the Old Towne Preservation Association, and recognizes eight categories of exterior decorations including Best Block, Most Beautiful, Most Old Fashioned, Best Use of Lights, Most Original, Most Whimsical, Best Commercial/Retail Decorations, and Honorable Mention.

A special thanks to our photographer, Will Hare of Will Hare Photo - www.WillHarePhoto.com

Best Block - 300 Block of S. Pixley St
Most Beautiful - 205 N Pine St - Steve and Kristy Colburn
Most Old Fashioned - 181 N Center St - Dale and Gayle Ray
Best Use of Lights - 339 E Palmyra Ave - Robert and Diane Von Gerichten
Most Original - 552 E. Palmyra Ave - Joel Hicks and Mark Hoch
Most Whimsical 344 S Orange St - Tony and Emily Tripp
Best Retail / Commercial - The Potting Shed - Jack Carlisle
Honorable Mention - The City of Orange - Mayor Tita Smith

2017 "Most Beautiful" Winner 205 N. Pine St, Old Towne Steve and Kristy Colburn - Click to Enlarge

The 30th Annual Old Towne Holiday Decorating Contest lit up the historic district on Saturday night, December 16 when Old Towne became a colorful holiday buffet of spectacular presentations in sight and sound. Home owners and businesses were urged to participate with street front decorations.

The contest is conducted by the Old Towne Preservation Association, and recognizes eight categories of exterior decorations including Most Beautiful, Most Old Fashioned, Best Use of Lights, Most Original, Most Whimsical, Best Commercial/Retail Decorations, and Best Block. An Honorable Mention award is also given.

A panel of judges toured Old Towne the evening of December 16 to select the best in each category. This year’s judges were Orange Police Chief Tom Kisela, Disneyland show production veteran Joe Peters, and Plaza antique mall owner Dan Jensen. Winners were announced at 7:00 pm on Sunday, December 17 when the Orange High School Chamber Singers caroled on the winning block.

OTPA Holiday Decorating Contest chair Teri Lepe said winners received a sign designating the winning category to post in front of their property. “Over the years, we know that many families look forward to touring Old Towne to not only enjoy the winning presentations, but also experience an historic neighborhood full of incredible decorations."

The Old Towne Preservation Association is a 32-year-old non-profit public service organization formed to preserve, protect and enhance the unique and historic character of Old Towne Orange, the largest residential Historic District in California with more than 1,400 homes built before 1940.

2016 Holiday Decorating Contest Winners!

Thank you go all who participated in our 2016 Annual Holiday Decorating Contest!

The judging panel toured Old Towne on Sunday evening, December 18th, 2016 looking for creative holiday lighting and other decorations within Old Towne Orange. While there were many outstanding participants this year, our judges felt that the block and houses below were worthy of special recognition. And of course we're all winners, because we live in Old Towne Orange and enjoy the small town holiday feel! And a special "Thank You" to our 2016 judges, Bill Crouch, Mignon Whitaker, and Jack Carlisle, and to Mike Short's group of singers from Orange High School -- and thanks to OTPA's Community Development Chair for organizing the whole event!

Best Block!

Best Block - 100 Block of N. Pine
Most Beautiful - 225 S. Olive Pamela Daniels
Most Old Fashioned - 604 W. Palmyra John & Kim Atkinson
Best Use of Lights - 376 S. Olive Adrian and Jorri Olmos
Most Original - 237 N. Pine Carrie, Gabriel, and Elise Frisbee
Most Whimsical 304 N. Pine The McNiel Family
Honorable Mention - 300 Block of S. Pixley

2015 Holiday Decorating Contest Winners!

Thanks to all those that lit up and decked out their homes with holiday cheer for all to enjoy. And also a special "thank you" to those who took the time to nominate your favorites for the judges -- we received some great comments and suggestions from all of you admirers out there! The 2015 winners are:

Best Block: 200 N. Pine St.
Most Original: Mark Drenner - 424 S. Grand St
Most Old Fashioned: Ray and Susan Hare - 270 S. Olive St.
Most Beautiful: Steve and Kristi Colburn Residence - 205 N. Pine St.
Best Use of Lights: Adrian and Jorri Olmos - 376 S. Olive St.
Honorable Mention: Jim and Viki Blaylock - 157 N. Pine St.
Most Whimsical: Jeff and Shirley McNeil - 304 N. Pine St.