Coon Rapids Residents Face Monday Deadline for Annual Holiday Lighting Contest

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — In neighborhoods across this northern Twin Cities suburb, homeowners are putting final touches on their brightest, boldest holiday displays as the deadline approaches for the city’s annual Holiday Lighting Contest. Entries must be submitted by noon on Monday, Dec. 1, marking the official start of one of Coon Rapids’ most cherished seasonal traditions.

Sponsored by the Coon Rapids Arts Commission, the contest transforms residential streets into a winter showcase each December. What began years ago as a community-spirited competition has evolved into a friendly but fiercely imaginative display of suburban creativity — from modest porch lights to fully synchronized animated productions.

This year’s competition is divided into two categories:

• Still — where at least 75 percent of the display is stationary, highlighting classic, static design and composition.
• Motion — where 75 percent or more of the elements are animated, often incorporating timed sequencing or music-synchronized lighting.

Four cash awards are offered: $100 for first place and $50 for second place in each category. While the prize amounts remain intentionally modest, participants say the true reward lies in community recognition — and, for many, in the bragging rights that carry from one holiday season to the next.

Judging will take place between Dec. 4 and Dec. 7 during evening hours, roughly 5:30 to 10 p.m., when displays are at full brilliance. Arts Commission judges will score entries based on overall impact, visual appeal, creativity, and variety.

One of the contest’s most anticipated features arrives after judging: by mid-December, the city will publish an interactive map of all participating homes. The map has become a staple of the holiday season in Coon Rapids, offering residents and visitors an accessible, family-friendly way to tour the city’s most striking displays on self-guided drives or neighborhood walks.

City officials say the contest is as much about community connection as it is about holiday décor. Each year, the displays bring neighbors outdoors, encourage local exploration, and provide a festive, low-cost outing during the darkest stretch of winter.

Residents wishing to participate must complete the official entry form on the City of Coon Rapids website and comply with contest rules, including consent to have their address included in the public viewing map.

With just hours remaining before the entry deadline, homeowners across Coon Rapids are making final adjustments — checking bulbs, syncing timers, and ensuring their homes shine at their brightest — hoping to secure a place on the city’s seasonal tour and perhaps earn a coveted spot among this year’s winners.

MinneapoliMedia