Old Town Trolley holds first Holiday Light Display contest

Dave Chatterton, General Manager of Old Town Trolley Tours of St Augustine, announced to Historic City News today that guests riding the “Holly Jolly Trolley” during this year’s Nights of Lights season will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite holiday lighting display.

Businesses in town do not have to register to be recognized in the “First Annual Light up the Night” competition; they only have to impress those guests in view of the passing Trolley.

“The contest is designed to promote awareness of Nights of Lights in general, but also to encourage even more participation from local businesses in lighting up the St Augustine night and keeping those lights on longer,” Chatterton told Historic City News local reporters. “Old Town Trolley Tours is committed to turning the competition into an integral part of how St Augustine celebrates the holidays each year.”

This year, some 75,000 people are expected to ride the Holly Jolly Trolley to experience the wonderland of millions of white lights sparkling throughout this charming historic city.

Chatterton said that media partners, Mint Magazine and WSOS Radio, are providing prizes for the businesses judged to be the best. The first prize winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and an advertising package worth $1,750 that includes a 1/2-page ad in Mint Magazine and 100 WSOS Radio spots. The second prize winner will receive a $750 cash prize and an advertising package worth $1,000 that includes a 1/3-page ad in Mint Magazine and 50 WSOS Radio spots. The third prize winner will receive a $500 cash prize and an advertising package worth $600 that includes a 1/4-page ad in Mint Magazine and 25 WSOS Radio spots.

“A panel of local government and hospitality industry leaders will participate in the final judging of the contest winners,” Chatterton explained. “Nights of Lights” has become a treasured holiday tradition for many in St Augustine and the surrounding area since its inauguration 20-years ago. The annual event has received a great deal of attention, and accolades, in recent years. Most notably, National Geographic named St Augustine one of the “ten best” places in the world to see holiday lights.