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Holiday Home Decorating Contest

Rancho Santa Margarita

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Monday to Tuesday

11/10 to 12/16

12:00 AM to 12:00 AM

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Light Up the Season & Show Off Your Holiday Spirit!

Get ready to deck the halls and dazzle the neighborhood! SAMLARC’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest invites Members to transform their homes into festive masterpieces of lights, tinsel, trees, and cheer.

Contest Categories:

  • Tech in Tinsel – Best use of technology and lights
  • Best Theme – Celebrate a cohesive and creative holiday vision! Think Disney magic, Peanuts charm, Winter Wonderland scenes, or any other imaginative theme brought to life through decorations
  • Holiday Show Stopper – Most eye-catching and elaborate display
  • Merriest Neighborhood – Streets that shine the brightest together

Interactive Holiday Map & Community Voting: A custom holiday map featuring all participating homes will go live on December 8. From December 8–16, Members can tour the displays and vote for their favorites right from the map!

Judging & Prizes: On December 17, the Community Lifestyle Committee will join in the fun by touring entries and considering Member votes to select the winners. Winners will be announced on December 18 and will receive:

  • A holiday gift card and a festive "Holiday Home Winner" yard sign sponsored by The Schnieders Group

Submitting Photos Once Registered: You can upload photos of your decorated home at any time by returning to this page and using the Media Files section. Photos will appear on the interactive map and can be submitted through December 7, 2025.

Event Guidelines

Important Dates to Remember:

  • Registration: November 10 - December 7
  • Decorations: Must be in place by December 7
  • Voting Period: December 8 - December 16
  • Winner Announcement: December 18

Contest Rules:

  • Eligible to enter your home in multiple categories.
  • Please keep all display entries family-friendly and appropriate for all ages.
  • Lights and displays should not pose a safety hazard or interfere with neighboring properties. 
  • By entering, participants agree to allow their home displays to be photographed for promotional purposes.
  • Entries may only win in one category (“Merriest Neighborhood” is an exception — it can be won in addition to an individual category)
  • The Merriest Neighborhood category requires participation from at least four homes. Only one representative from the neighborhood should submit the entry on behalf of the neighborhood.
  • Winners will be featured in the SAMLARC community e-newsletter, website, and social media.
  • All judging decisions are final. Let’s keep the spirit of the contest positive, friendly, and fun for all!

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