Four Morden homes were honoured this past weekend for their efforts to show their Christmas spirit.
The winners of the Light Up Morden contest were presented with gift baskets at the holiday craft sale hosted by the Pembina Hills Arts Council Saturday.
The arts council teamed up with the City of Morden on the promotion which had residents vote for the best seasonal lighting displays posted to social media.
“This year we liked that we put it back to the community to tell us who the winners are … I think that was good,” said Lili Krushel, events co-ordinator for the City of Morden. “The first place was the clear winner.”
The top prize for most votes went to Mignon Manzanillo for her family’s outside decorations at 221 3rd St. as well as an indoor Christmas village display.
“We’ve been big on Christmas, ever since I was a kid,” she said.
“My husband actually did it; it was just me telling him I want this and I want this,” Manzanillo said with a laugh. “We always make sure our house is very lively every Christmas. We will do it every year.”
Second place went to the home of Dennis and Debbie Korne at 353 12th Street. They are well known for their extensive annual display.
“I waited a long time to be able to put on such a beautiful display … in Winnipeg, we just didn’t have the yard or the time. We were raising kids back then,” said Debbie.
“Now, it just seems to keep growing every year, and I think it brings a lot of joy to the community, and that’s how we give back,” she said. “It’s my vision and Dennis’s hard work.”
Third place went to Dylan Maksymic, whose home at 145 Conner Hill is also a frequent must-see for people wanting to tour light displays in Morden.
“We do it to cheer people up, give them something to look at and enjoy. It’s more of a novelty thing for us, not the competition,” said Dylan’s father Dale, who also teams up with his son for the annual Santa truck that tours the community.
“We just enjoy it. It’s something that started about five years ago, and we’ve carried on with it. It seems to get a little bigger every year,” he said. “We just want to spread some cheer the best that we can … we don’t mind doing the work at all.”
Another prize went out to Darla Henderson at 302 12th Street for being the most popular viewed house on the various social media platforms.
“I love Christmas, and I want to bring that out to the community,” said Henderson.
“My children love to participate, so my youngest actually is the one who motivates me to get going on it every year.
“We make sure that we have it done, not before Remembrance Day but soon after,” she said. “It brings the kid out in me, and it’s just a fun thing to do.”
Pembina Hills Arts Council director Liza Isakov was pleased with the response.
“I think we had a good number of people registering and showcasing their homes and just brightening up the community,” she said.
“It was fun to look through it all and get to know people and see how it brings joy to them and to the community,” she said. “It’s a lot of hard work, and they’re not doing it for the prizes, they’re doing it just to bring joy to everyone.”
Supplied Photos
Four houses were awarded prizes in the 2023 Light Up Morden holiday decorating contest last weekend. Clockwise from left: 221 3rd St., 353 12 St., 145 Connor Hill Drive, and 302 12th St. Below
