Lewes Lights returns for 2021 with expanded options
Lewes Lights is returning for 2021, and registration for participants is open at leweslights.org until Monday, Nov. 15.
Founders and Co-chairs Christian Mullins and Debra Evalds promise to make 2021 Lewes Lights bigger, brighter and better without losing the hometown spirit and community soul that made the event magical in its inaugural year. The backbone and strength of Lewes Lights is the wonderful homeowners and businesses that decorate and light up Lewes to glow together. The goal is to continue that tradition while encouraging visitors to support local businesses in 2021.
“Lewes Lights is organically turning Lewes, Delaware into a Christmas travel destination,” said Mullins, whose career is in the hotel/tourism industry. “We are grateful to our amazing 2020 participants for the success of last year’s event. This year we hope to spread more joy to local businesses and see visitors dining in Lewes restaurants, staying in Lewes hotels, and patronizing Lewes merchants.”
Event organizers have added options to invite more homeowners in the 19958 ZIP code to participate in Lewes Lights 2021. This year, all 19958 homeowners will be eligible to register and compete in the Clark Griswold of Lewes award category, following the guidelines listed on the website. The Lewes Lights tours will also be expanded beyond the City of Lewes out toward Route 1, making all homes and businesses east of Route 1 eligible to register. “We listened to input from the greater Lewes community and are expanding to feature more beautifully decorated homes this year. Lewes homeowners east of Route 1 will be featured on the map and eligible to compete for awards,” said Evalds. “It just was too big of an endeavor to expand beyond the City of Lewes last year, as a small volunteer startup. This year we want to stretch the boundaries and light up the gateways into downtown Lewes!”
All homeowners can choose to compete for awards in six categories, including a new category, White Christmas, which will feature homes with stylish white lights and décor to celebrate the holidays. As in 2020, homeowners can opt out of competing and enter under the Joy category, which is decorating for no award beyond the joy and love of the season.
Organizers encourage owners of homes and businesses to register early; the deadline is Monday, Nov. 15. The 2020 program included participation from 200 homes and businesses, and locals are confident that number will be much larger this year.
“Asking locals to pre-plan their Christmas light displays and register their properties before Halloween has proven to be a difficult task,” said Tracy Zigman, who is heading up Lewes Lights community engagement efforts for resident participants. Organizers are working with the City of Lewes to ensure proper traffic flow and routes are strategically in place, but the tour requires a lot of planning. Organizers stress that it is important for all participating businesses and homeowners to be fully registered by Nov. 15, so proper mapping can be coordinated. Registration and complete event details can be found at leweslights.org.
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