Decorating your home for the holidays can get serious when there’s a contest.
This is exactly what some families, all in good spirits, did when they entered the 2nd Annual Foxboro Jaycees Light Pageant.
“We want to celebrate the light people bring into our lives with these wonderful holiday light shows. Each winning house was notified via email and received a $ 25 Jaycees Stop & Shop gift card, ”said Bob Gillis, Foxboro Jaycees member who co-chaired the event with fellow Jaycees member Pam. Warren this year, announcing the winners.
The winner and the name of each category are:
- Bing Crosby Prize: Collins family on James Street.
- “Martha Stewart” Award: Ferraro Family on Fairway Lane.
- “Over the Rainbow” Prize: Fiumara Family on Samson Road.
- “Toy Land” Prize: Geaudreau family on Beach Street.
- The WOW Factor ”and“ The People’s Choice Award: The Silva Family on Mcnamara Way.
- Clark Griswold / Friend of the Electric Company Award: Donaway family on South Street.
- Miracle on 34th Street Award (Business): Barrows Insurance
Joe and Kristen Fiumara, who have lived in Foxboro since 2008, received the “Over the Rainbow” award.
Joe said they’ve been decorating the house since December 1 they moved in. They decided to enter the contest because he liked the idea and hoped more friends in town would light up Foxboro with their competition juices.
The couple competed last year but unfortunately didn’t win.
“I think I was put in the wrong category,” Joe said.
At first he did it for their children Peter, now 17, Nicholas 14 and Jake 11, because they would light up every night to see the display.
Now he says he’s doing it for the new generation of neighborhood kids like the Whites, Kolodnys and Macri.
“Maybe because I also channel my inner Clark W. Griswald. I think this idea of the Jaycees is fantastic. It creates a Christmas spirit among neighbors and friends, ”Joe said.
He thinks there are enough people who would love to see a Halloween contest as well and he said he would be happy to pay to enter those contests and donate to the local food bank.
Jan Donaway, who received the ‘Clark Griswold’ / ‘Friend of the Electric Company’ award, has lived in Foxboro since 1980.
“I decorated every 28 years. I worked at Sunlight Farm for 20 years and we opened for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, so my lights were always on and on on Thanksgiving night.
She said last year that a member of Jaycee stopped by her house and said, “Are you in the contest? and Jan said, “What competition?”
She therefore decided to register this year.
“I love to decorate for all the holidays, especially Christmas. It makes me happy and I’ve had so many great feedback so if I can make someone else happy that’s my goal, ”Jan said.
She now has a 2 year old grandson and she said he loves the lights.
“I think it’s a fun contest and I would like more people to participate. There are a lot of beautiful exhibits in town.
Kenny and Meg Collins, who received the “Bing Crosby” award, had lived in Foxboro for 18 years. They have four children, Annie, 14; Marie, 15 years old; Jack, 16, and Kate, 17.
“We have always decorated our house but added to the collection in recent years. The Elves, the Carolers of Dicken and most of the blow molds were with my parents in Walpole for 50 years, ”Kenny said.
He said his parents made the elves, one to represent each member of the family and a cousin since he is one of 8 children. He said that every year they decorated the yard and the roof.
“I finally convinced my dad to give them all to me and we love to carry on the tradition in Foxboro. When I saw the contest last year I knew I had the perfect old school outfit and thought that would be a great way to honor my family, ”Kenny said.
They have won the “Bing Crosby” award two years in a row.
“Meg and I grew up celebrating Christmas which was such an important part of our upbringing and we brought those traditions and created our family traditions,” Kenny said. “We’re thrilled the Jaycees are hosting this competition because it’s great to see all the cars go by to see the backyard lit up.
Their daughter, Mary, 15, said she was excited about her family’s victory.
“I especially know that my dad works very hard to put all the decorations in place and it’s funny because they are really old and I know they belonged to my grandfather so they are passed on, which makes even cooler things, ”she said. noted.
Kenny decided to donate his gift card.
“I donated the card to a food drive for those in need hosted by Deacon Paul in South Boston,” said Kenny.
Gillis expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Jaycees.
“We would like to thank everyone who entered, as well as everyone who also decorated their homes. There are a lot of beautiful displays in Foxboro, and you make the darker days of winter (and 2021) so much brighter with your bright displays big and small.
