This year, Christmas in the City has a new addition to the yuletide festivities that local organizers want to spotlight in hopes of getting people beaming over the possibilities.

The Christmas in the City “City Lights” Contest, a partnership between the Clinton Main Street Program and Lowe’s of Clinton, will provide all residents within the corporate city limits of Clinton the opportunity to decorate their home for the Christmas season while supporting the Clinton Area Foundation for Education (C.A.F.E).

“This is a new event for this year and a new partnership with C.A.F.E . We are very excited to be expanding our Christmas in the City partnerships,” said Mary Rose, Clinton-Sampson Planning director and Clinton Main Street Program manager.

The City Lights contest registration fee of $20 will guarantee a home is judged on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. During that time, it is requested that registered participants have all lights turned on for the judges to see. Judges will use the following criteria: Creativity, Sparkle and Overall Presentation.

Upon completion of the registration and payment of $20 each registrant will be mailed a $20 Lowe’s coupon (limit one per household), which will be valid with a $50 purchase of qualifying Christmas lights and outdoor holiday décor from Lowe’s.

All funds raised will be contributed to C.A.F.E, a non-profit organization devoted to providing classroom resources needed to enrich the learning experience for students in Clinton City Schools.

“The Clinton Main Street Program and the Christmas in the City event committee is delighted this new partnership has been formed with C.A.F.E. We believe partnerships make great things happen in our community, and are looking forward to the inaugural City Lights contest,” said Rose.

She said the committee is hoping it will bring “lots of sparkle” to the city during the holiday season. Michael Pope, president of C.A.F.E., said the group is excited to partner with the Clinton Main Street Program in promoting the event.

“C.A.F.E.’s purpose is to provide grant funding to teachers for long-term, high-impact classroom needs, so not only is this a great way to make our city more festive and increase awareness and participation in Christmas in the City, it’s another way this community can support and invest in our students,” Pope stated.

As part of the contest, not only will everyone who registers receive a $20 Lowe’s coupon, each of the five voting districts in Clinton will be judged separately — meaning five residential contest winners, one in each district. Winners will each be awarded a $50 Lowe’s gift card and recognized with signs posted in their yards the morning of Thursday, Dec. 1, which is also the date of the Christmas in the City festivities in downtown Clinton.

Helen Kearns, a Christmas in the City committee member, said she is looking forward to the new event, just another holiday offering to bring people a little closer in the community while promoting the city itself.

“As a Clinton citizen who was not raised in this area, I feel Clinton is a real gem of a city and really appreciate the heart and support that makes Clinton such a gem,” Kearns stated. “I am looking forward to all the creativity the City Lights contest will bring out in our citizens and can’t wait to see Clinton sparkle for such a great cause.”

The Christmas in the City committee met at the end of last week and is expected to announce in the near future an expanded slate of activities as part of the annual celebration. “We are growing the event with added partnerships,” Rose noted.

C.A.F.E. volunteers will be at Lowe’s this Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to assist citizens with registering for the City Lights contest. Registration must be completed by Nov. 23, and forms will be available at — and submitted to — the following locations: Matthews Gifts of Clinton, Simply NC in downtown Clinton or the Clinton-Sampson Planning Department at 227 Lisbon St.

Checks can be made payable to the Clinton Development Corporation. For more information, call 910-299-4904.

The Sampson County History Museum was decked out for last year’s Christmas in the City. In the lead-up to this year’s Christmas festivities, slated for Dec. 1, residents are being encouraged to decorate their homes to benefit local students.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_christmas-3.jpgThe Sampson County History Museum was decked out for last year’s Christmas in the City. In the lead-up to this year’s Christmas festivities, slated for Dec. 1, residents are being encouraged to decorate their homes to benefit local students.

https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Christmas-V2-4C.jpg
New program shines for good cause

By Chris Berendt

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Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.