Twinkles are appearing in the eyes of kids and the young at heart all over the city of Laurel as decorated homes and businesses light the townscape in shining holiday spirit.
Last week, some of the outdoor displays received Holiday Spirit Awards in an annual tradition— the Holiday Spirit decorating contest, sponsored by the Laurel Civic Improvement Committee, chaired by City Councilwoman Valerie Nicholas, and Laurel Department of Parks and Recreation.
Residents and business owners are permitted to nominate their own properties or the properties of others, but the entries are required to be located within city limits to be eligible.
This year's deadline for nominations, announced on the Department of Parks and Recreation Facebook page, was Dec. 15.
Large Holiday Spirit Award yard signs were delivered to the contest winners; some didn't even know they'd been nominated until they received an unexpected visit or found a sign left on their property.
The grand prize went to Vietnam native John Luong, whose home is located on the corner on Downdale Drive in Ward 2. Luong said he's been decorating for years and received recognition in the contest in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
"In my country, 20 years or so ago, people were too poor to have Christmas lights," Luong said. "I really enjoy it and am very happy that people like it."
He said he gets a particular thrill when children in the neighborhood stop to take pictures and that his own granddaughter, 3-year-old My Tien, begs to have her picture taken with the display.
The decorating work takes about two full days and the Luongs' lights stay up from around Thanksgiving until a week into the New Year.
Some of the eclectic lights that spread across two sides of the Luongs' upscale single-family home are commercial Vietnamese lights that hang from trees like icicles with running lights. Marble foo dog sculptures sporting red velvet bows flank the front entrance.
Blinking light sculptures shaping Santa, reindeer, peacocks, snowflakes, seals, seagulls and even an Eiffel Tower create a lovely mix of other things the Luongs like, especially dogs — the Luongs have three beloved pets, a Shiatsu and two mixed breeds.
A few of their many reindeer look to have escaped and leapt into the yard next door at the Cypress Street home of Antonio Velasquez, coincidently the first-place winner.
Velasquez said he also decorates for the season every year, although this is the first time he's been awarded a sign.
"I feel good because it's the first time in seven years we won an award," Velasquez said. "I am so happy."
A traditional wreath, blue icicles, multi-colored light strings, cacti, reindeer, Christmast rees and candy canes wink across the Velasquez's lawn.
As he does every year, Tom Howell pulled out all stops for his Christmas carnival display— the second place winner — on Irving Street in Ward 1.
Inflatable Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Santa figurines; a working Ferris wheel carrying oversized stuffed animals; animated reindeer; and a lovely inset window manger scene are surrounded by a multitude of colored lights that wrap from the top of the roof to the ground around the front and side of his duplex.
"This is the best I've decorated," Howell said. "It might get better next year."
Howell even decorated his neighbor's half of their duplex with a red arrow sign that points to his own yard and says "Ditto" in green Christmas lights.
"I decorated some of his house for his grand kids," Howell said.
Naughty Santa
Laurel police dispatcher Bob Bain captured third place for his home on Laurel Avenue in Ward 1.
"I was surprised," he said. "The neighbors have been nominating me for years."
Bain said he's been adding to his annual display since 1989 when he bought his single-family home from his parents, who had lived there since 1972. His display represents a bit of Laurel's commercial history: The large candy canes at the front of his porch came from the extinct Laurel Zayres, and the smaller ones lining the entrance sidewalk are from Bradleys.
Bain's grandson, Miguel Colindres, 14, usually helps him set up, but this year, Bain said he and his son Brian Bain did the work on a Friday night in about three hours.
Their display includes an inflatable Snoopy, teddy bear and snowmen; light sculptures of Santa, candy canes, angels, snowmen and icicles; and purple string lights in honor of the Ravens.
This year Bain said he had technical problems with a favorite sign that read "Irish you a Merry Christmas," and had to take it down, but that his naughty Santa who appears to be relieving himself thanks to a string of lights (and which Bain thinks probably prevented him from winning recognition in the past) is doing well.
Holiday Spirit Awards contest winners
Grand prize: 14115 Downdale Drive, John Luong
First place: 7615 Cypress St., Antonio Velasquez
Second place: 106 Irving St., Tom Howell
Third place: 318 Laurel Ave., Bob Bain
Fourth place: 415 Montgomery St., Joseph Lasick
Fifth place: 920 Montgomery St., Gloria and Marco Uribio, Ingris Ramirez