SEA ISLE CITY – The Sea Isle City Recreation Office’s 2023 Holiday Lighting Contest featured eighteen (18) well-decorated properties – each featuring eye-catching lights and adornments that brighten up the town. The properties were judged on December 14 by volunteers from the Sea Isle City Garden Club, who chose the winners based on each display’s level of creativity, aesthetic effect, and endeavor.
The first-place winners of this year’s Holiday Lighting Contest were Patrick & Kris Lynch, who received a $100 prize (courtesy of First Bank of Sea Isle City). The Lynch home at 8604 Pleasure Avenue was illuminated with thousands of colorful lights, which adorned every tree, shrub, fence, and entryway of the sprawling corner property.
The contest’s second prize of $50 (also courtesy of First Bank of Sea Isle City) went to Ray and Donna Poling’s home at 10 50th Street (North Unit), where holiday lights brightened an array of garlands, poinsettias, and other seasonal decorations.
The third-place prize of a Floral Arrangement (courtesy of Rocky and Fred’s Creative Designs Florist) went to the McLeer Family at 305 39th Street (East Unit), which featured a variety of colorfully-lit decorations – including images of Santa Claus, a manger scene, and life-size elves carrying decorations up a large ladder.
To add additional holiday cheer to his property, owner TJ McLeer donned a Santa Claus costume and waved to the Garden Club members and other passersby while judging was taking place.
The properties that received Honorable Mention during this year’s Holiday Lighting Contest were:
- 107 33rd Street (East Unit)
- 101 33rd Street
- 117 36th Street (East Unit)
- 3800 Sounds Avenue (Eastside and Facing the Bay)
- 301 JFK Boulevard (VFW Post 1963)
- 4222 Park Road (Mike’s Seafood Market)
- 303 46th Place
- 305 46th Place
- 209 48th Street. (East & West Units)
- 122 48th Street (West Unit)
- 5517 Roberts Avenue (South Unit)
- 222 57th Street
- 211 67th Street (South Unit)
- 45 79th Street (West Unit)
- 8501 Sounds Avenue (Eastside and Facing the Bay)
“There were many extraordinarily decorated properties that made the judging more challenging,” said Garden Club member Sue Williamson. “There were also other fabulous-looking homes that were not entered in the contest that are worth driving through town to see.”
“We hope our residents and visitors will add to their holiday enjoyment by touring Sea Isle City and seeing the many homes and businesses that are beautifully decorated,” said Director of Community Services Katherine Custer. “In addition to the properties that participated in our annual Holiday Lighting Contest, there are many other locations that have terrific decorations – such as the 200-block of 43rd Street, where the homeowners do a fine job decorating each year, and the public areas where the City has installed holiday trim.”
To view photos of the properties that were entered in Sea Isle City’s 2023 Holiday Lighting Contest, go to the “Photo Gallery” page at www.VisitSICNJ.com.
