Jane's ECV Holiday Contest 2026
The Contest and Judging
What I am looking for in 2026.
What I am looking for in 2026.
Note: Judging will be "as is" on December 12-13, 2026. Please be ready.
I may ask for your help in judging some criteria. (Check this page)
Place Holders for ECV East + West:
- Awarded ribbons for 1st-5th
- Ribbon for Best in Show
- Honorable Mention Ribbons
Winners will be announced on this page.
2026 festivities will hopefully include :
- A Holiday Scavanger hunt
- Ornament making classes
- A tree decorating class
- Christmas Caroling
What I am looking for in 2026.
What I am looking for in 2026.
What I am looking for in 2026.
I am an Artist so ...
This year consider:
- Cohesive themes
- Flow...how the eye moves in your display.
- Interactiveness and community are big.
- Be creative
- What makes it magical for the kids?
- Lights are great but it's not just about having lots of lights but what you do with those lights.
- Have fun and be safe!
- btw-I love a good laugh - so consider whimsey
Note: The host reserves the right to add or amend any info at any time.
More tips:
What I am looking for in 2026.
Extra Catagories
- The 7 Principles of Design and the 7 Elements of Art are great tools. (The winning homes will have a lot of these elements)
- -like layers
- -light variations
- -symmetry
- -balance
- Tip-Change up your design from last year.
- I won't award the same design twice
Updates:
- 1st-5th ribbons
- Honorable Mention ribbons may have a tougher criteria and I may add another ribbon for those who almost placed 1-5.
Janesecvholidaycontest@gmail.com .
Extra Catagories
What I am looking for in 2026.
Extra Catagories
In addition to the place holders,
I will be looking for the best:
- Most lit Street ...Will it be Doty or Lemoli or ???
- Garage door (Faysmith last year)
- Roof, (Patronella last year)
- Trees (I love a good tree) Doty+Kornblum last year
- and sidewalks (who brings community together like arches with mistletoe),
- Unique lawn items for the scavenger hunt
Winners will be highlighted on this website.
I am considering a few new catagories:
- Best Low Lit house
- Most Classic -Traditional
- Best Inflatable display
If you have suggestions
email me at
Janesecvholidaycontest@gmail.com .
To donate :
Venmo @Jane-Talbott or email me for a QR code.
Jane's ECV Lights Contest- Great Job Everyone-Results are in
The History
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
This Year's Contest
In 2023, I set out on a quest to inspire the 1500 homes in our community to light up the neighborhoods with holiday cheer and lights. I wanted the kids to see how beautiful things can be when we come together as a community. With dedication and hard work dreams do come true. Here we are three years later. We are doing it again!
My future hope is for caroling and hot chocolate with mini marshmellows in our streets as well as folks looking out for those in need. But as for now the 2025 contest.
This Year's Contest
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
This Year's Contest
Judging happened on 12/13/25. This year was harder than ever to judge!
Many of you did an incredible job. More sidewalks, arches, roofs, and trees were decorated this year. The volunteers and I saw the hard work and effort. Congratulations to all of you who brought our community together with lights.
To keep things fair, the homes ready on Dec 13th were judged not for having the most lights but with the elements of art in mind.
I looked for clarity of creative themes, variations, and interactiveness.
.
Photo results added below
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
- In my opinion:
- The best Arch is on 152nd Place. (East ECV) It's interactive with mistletoe and is wide.
- The best roof(s) are on Patronella Ave. (West ECV)
- Shout outs to all the tree decorators. I loved seeing them.
- One of the best trees among 8 on its the property is white + blue and on the corner of 154th Street and Fonthill Ave, but it competes with the Doty striped tree, and the Cordary Ave large tree with ornaments. Email me with who you think should win the best tree.
Janesecvholidaycontest@gmail.com .
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
Who gets Bragging Rights? Awarded soon
For privacy and legal reasons, I will tell you what street the winners are on:
- Best in Show- both inside and outside goes to 157th and Cranbrook.
- Contenders for 1st thru 4th coming soon! :
- Lemoli Ave
- Faysmith Ave.
- Manhattan Bch Blvd
- Doty Ave.
- 154th Street
- 156th Street
- Prairie Ave.
- Many added to their display as time went on and I loved the additions but am judging from what I saw on the 13th.
- More Updates Comng soon.
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Thank you to those who volunteered this year. To donate email me at...
Janesecvholidaycontest@gmail.com .
Best in Show 2025 ECV West 157th + Cranbrook Ave
At night, this home boasts months of work both inside and out. It's worth viewing if you haven't already seen it.
Scavenger Hunt these adorable ECV East moments
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
I love the Bug! I love the fun of a warm ginger bread house. This vinette made me smile.
Best Arch
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
This interactive arch is inviting with it's mistletoe and wide statue. Be sure to smooch someone, with their permission, as you walk through this beautiful arch.
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
It truly warmed my heart to see the diversity of Santa this year. He is happy and waving and made me and another volunteer put on a giant smile.
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
This is the quintessential Santa Clause scene. The home is beautifully decorated and subtle. It's really great.
Some thoughts about ECV West runner-ups
Manhattan Bch Blvd
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Manhattan Beach Blvd towards Prairie Ave has a few homes that truly encompass the classic beauty of Christmas. These homes were very challenging to judge because of their beautiful decorating. Be sure to check them out.
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Doty Ave Striped Tree
I love this house and design and it's neighbor on the left, (on the Manhattan bch blvd) makes me want to add another catagory because they all do really great decorating. The lights are note worthy.
Cordary Ave Neighbors
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Cordary Ave Neighbors
The neighbors next to the winning home on Cordary Ave are amazing. Every year they put out really good work and I have to really think hard as to who will win. I wish I had more ribbon catagories often.
154th + Kornblum Ave
Doty Ave Striped Tree
Cordary Ave Neighbors
Your home was and is amazing. I especially enjoyed your consistency with every holiday. I loved the 8 plus trees that were lit up. I couldn't place you this year but your design is top-notch. Please keep it up and hopefully next year.
Congratulation 2025 ECV East Winners
Faysmith is 1
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
This beauty almost received best in show but takes first with a clear design and a garage that plays a digital tv show.
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli is saturated with lights and talent. Clearly neighbors wanted bragging rights. Those rights go to a subtle beauty that features a gentle atmosphere and a deer resting on a bench among other things.
Lemoli Ave takes 3rd
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli Ave takes 3rd
The interactive arches filled my heart and is the longest arch tunnel in both East and West El Camino Village is on Lemoli Ave. This home has so many memorable moments. Walk and experience it yourself.
Lemoli Ave takes 4th
Lemoli Ave takes 2nd
Lemoli Ave takes 3rd
Who doesn't love a good theme? This home not only had one but delivered it visually. It's "Frozen" theme delivered all the way down to the gothic style arches and the cool cold of the lights.
Congratulation 2025 ECV West Winners
156th Street takes 1st
156th Street takes 1st
156th Street takes 1st
You had me as soon as I turned around the corner to view 156th. Giant red festive palm trees and a message that resounded for the holidays inspired the joy theme in this light design. The arches were also decorated with round holiday ornaments.
Doty Ave takes 2nd
156th Street takes 1st
156th Street takes 1st
Another new comer to this contest blows me away. Even their stairs have lights on them, their is a canopy of lights covering the lawn, plus arches for the sidewalk. The tree and everything else were like icing on a cake.
Cordary Ave is 3rd
156th Street takes 1st
Prairie Ave takes 4th
Wow! What a display! This home continues to deliver year after year. The lights and overall set-up draws the eye closer into the experience.
Prairie Ave takes 4th
156th Street takes 1st
Prairie Ave takes 4th
Prairie ave close to Marine, is a new comer to the contest. His sister went to the website and examined the hints as to what I was looking for and then delivered them. Their display has several elements and does not disappoint.