City spreads cheer with Deck the Door Contest

The holiday season is now in full swing. Granted, it still feels like spring, but don’t let that hinder the celebration and prevent you from enjoying the true spirit of this time of year. The City of Isle of Palms has been helping residents mix and mingle with its Deck the Door Contest, which kicked off on Nov. 4 and runs through Dec. 2.

“During the holidays, Isle of Palms keeps its coastal charm and embraces festive traditions, including its Holiday Street Festival,” said Chaundra Yudchenko, IOP public relations and tourism coordinator. “This is also a ‘secret season’ – a time when the island is less crowded and people can enjoy everything IOP has to offer, like a local.”

The Deck the Door Contest encourages IOP residents to show off their creativity and holiday spirit by transforming their doors into beautiful, themed holiday displays. Contestants must be island residents or business owners and must be 18 or older to enter the contest. Family members and friends of all ages are welcome to join in the fun and help decorate.

“The holiday season is a symbol of hope and joy,” Yudchenko shared. “It’s also a time to connect with family and friends by creating new memories while enjoying a break from the usual routine.”

The contest winners will be announced on Dec. 7 during the Holiday Street Festival. The prizes will be holiday-themed and awarded to three residents in the following categories:

MOST TRADITIONAL
MOST CREATIVE
MOST FESTIVE

For the businesses that participate, their category will be:

BEST OVERALL

“Our residents never disappoint in the creativity department,” said Yudchenko. “The golf cart parades are proof.”

To the city staff’s knowledge, this is the first holiday door decorating contest that IOP has held. The city is actively working on initiatives to increase community engagement, strengthen bonds among community members and encourage a festive, interactive spirit during the holiday season. If you missed this year’s contest, then be on the lookout for next year’s and many more to come.

By Maurice J. Frazier