2026 Official Rules

The short version: it's free, any display counts, and the deadlines only decide who's eligible for awards.

Eligibility

1. Entry is open to homes and businesses in Detroit Lakes and the surrounding area.
2. Entry is free. Lake Lights is not a fundraiser.
3. One entry per address. A business enters the Business division; a residence enters the Home division.
4. Businesses may enter indoor displays, outdoor displays, or both. Homes are judged on displays visible from the street.
5. Organizers' and judges' own homes and businesses may appear on the map but cannot win awards. The same applies to Project 412 and the Chamber.

Registration

6. Register at lakelightsdl.com/join. Required: contact name, email, phone and street address. Optional: business hours and website for businesses.
7. Contest deadlines: businesses by Sun Dec 6, 11:59 pm; homes by Sun Dec 13, 11:59 pm. Later entries are added to the map but are not eligible for awards.
8. Organizers review every submission before it appears. Entries that are incomplete, duplicated, outside the area or inappropriate may be declined.

Public display & consent

9. Your street address is shown publicly on the tour map. This is required so visitors can plan routes and judges can find you. Phone numbers and emails are never shown.
10. By entering, you allow Lake Lights & Holiday Nights and its partners to photograph your display from public areas. You also allow your photos, display description and address (or business name) to be used on the website, social media, print and press.
11. Displays should be lit every evening from entry through Dec 31, at least 5–10 pm. They must be lit on judging nights. Businesses should be open, or at least have their displays visible, during the business judging window (Wed Dec 9, 2–5 pm).
12. Keep displays safe and legal: no blocking sidewalks or roads, and follow electrical safety and any city ordinances. Visitors should view from public property and respect private property.

Judging

13. Two separate panels of three judges score Homes and Businesses in person, using the published criteria.
14. Judges may visit unannounced. A display that isn't lit or visible when judges arrive may not be scored.
15. Judges may choose an optional Judges' Choice award in either division.
16. The judges' decisions are final.

Awards

Business division: "Deck the Storefronts"

• Best Spirit of the SeasonThe most festive, welcoming exterior
• Brightest, a.k.a. the Griswold AwardThe most lights, the most dazzle, the most over-the-top
• Indoor WonderlandThe best interior or window display
• People's ChoiceThe most public votes, Dec 13–20

Judges score every business on five criteria, each from 1 to 5: Creativity, Impact, Brightness, Wow Factor and Overall Presentation. Each judge also tags the award the entry fits best.

Home division: "Light Up Your Home"

• The "Clark Griswold" AwardQuantity, brightness & impact
• The "Norman Rockwell" AwardAesthetic, tradition & sentiment
• The "Santa's Workshop" AwardTheme, creativity & novelty
• People's ChoiceThe most public votes, Dec 13–20

Judges give each home a primary category and a score from 1 to 10. Ties are broken by the Brake Light Test (which house made the judges brake hardest?), then the Spirit Test (most "Christmas-y"), then the Effort Test (most work to install).

An optional Judges' Choice may be awarded in either division.

People's Choice voting

17. Voting runs Sun Dec 13 – Sun Dec 20 on lakelightsdl.com. There is one award for homes and one for businesses.
18. A valid email address is required. Each email can vote once per award.
19. Organizers may void votes that look automated, duplicated, made with throwaway emails, or otherwise fraudulent, and may disqualify entries that benefit from them.
20. Voter emails are used only to validate votes and are never shown or sold. Voters can opt in separately to Lake Lights updates.

Prizes

• Business winners: hand-carved ornament trophies by Cody Harstad.
• Home winners: $50 in Chamber Bucks each.
• People's Choice (both divisions): a "People's Choice 2026" yard or window sign and public recognition.
• Every winner gets recognition on the website, social media and in local press.

General

21. Prizes are as described on the website. They are non-transferable and have no cash value unless stated. Winners must accept within 14 days.
22. Organizers may adjust dates, categories or rules for weather or other circumstances, and will announce changes on the website.
23. Questions go to the Contact page.

Key dates

Mon Nov 30

Grand Parade of Lights

Sun Dec 6, 11:59 pm

Business entries due

Wed Dec 9, 2–5 pm

Business judging

Sun Dec 13, 11:59 pm

Home entries due

Dec 13 – 20

People's Choice voting

~Wed Dec 16, evening

Home judging

~Mon Dec 21

Winners announced

Through Dec 31

Displays lit evenings; map stays live