Wonder City Wonderland contest lights up the city
Holiday decorating competition fires up the holiday spirit
By DON WILBURN
donaldfwilburn@gmail.com
The holiday season in West Memphis got a little brighter – and a lot more festive – thanks to the city’s _rst-ever Winter Wonderland Christmas Light Decorating Contest. The event, which celebrated the creative spirit and community pride of the area, drew dozens of participants from all over the city. During last Thursday’s city council meeting, Mayor Marco Mc-Clendon announced the winners, celebrating the beauty and festive air that made this holiday season truly special.
The contest, originally offering a cash prize of $1,000 for _rst place and $500 for second, turned into an unexpected but heartwarming twist when a tie occurred in four of the _ve city wards. As a result, the prize money was split evenly, with each of the tied winners receiving $750 – making sure the festive spirit was shared generously across the community.
The only exception was Ward 5, where there was no tie. In that ward, the _rst-place winner, Pamela Haynes, received $1,000, while second place went to Leslie Wells with a $500 prize.
“The response from the community has been amazing,” said Mayor McClendon. “The homes were breathtaking, and it was clear that our residents poured a lot of love and creativity into their displays. I want to thank everyone who participated, as well as the West Memphis Advertising and Promotion Commission for making this event possible. It’s events like this that bring our community closer together and spread some much-needed joy during the holiday season.”
See CONTEST, page A2
The Winter Wonderland Contest Winners display their wellearned prize money.
Photos by Don Wilburn
The contest featured some really incredible displays spanning the entire city.
From page A1
The contest was a true showcase of holiday spirit, with homes across the city lighting up in a dazzling array of colors, from twinkling white lights to vibrant red, green, and blue displays. Each of the winning homes stood out for its creativity, design, and sheer festive charm.
The winners, along with their addresses for those who might want to take a drive through the Winter Wonderland, were: Ward 1: Bobby Allen- Smith at 1010 Wingate and Jennie Grant at 1606 Colonial Drive Ward 2: Ora Allen at 805 S. 12th St and Cassie Butler at 301 N. 12th St
Ward 3: Brad and Taunya Peppers at 521 Dover Road and Derick Simmons at 416 Gibson Ave Ward 4: Tanetrius Finney- Udell at 910 E. Barton Ave and Gladys McClendon at 1207 E. Barton Ave Ward 5: Pamela Haynes at 3102 Grove Park Dr and Leslie Wells at 2921 Beatty St For Brad Peppers, one of the winners from Ward 3, the contest was about more than just decorating his home – it was about giving back to the community.
“I go all out decorating every year,” said Peppers, who shared the victory with his wife, Taunya. “But this year, I entered the contest with a specific goal in mind: if we won, I wanted to donate the prize money to the West Memphis Animal Shelter. They do such important work, and I thought this would be a perfect way to give back during the holidays.”
Brad’s generosity exemplifies the spirit of the season, and his donation will provide much-needed support to the shelter, which plays a crucial role in the community.
The Winter Wonderland contest was such a success that organizers are already looking ahead to next year. Plans are in the works to expand the contest and add more prizes, not just for the top winners but for a broader group of participants. Organizers hope to increase the number of winners to as many as 50, offering a variety of prizes in addition to cash.
“We want to make the contest even bigger next year,” said Jim Jackson of the West Memphis A& P Commission. “The more people we can involve, the more we can showcase our community’s creativity and bring everyone together. This is just the beginning of what we hope will become a beloved holiday tradition in West Memphis.”
This amazing home in Ward 5 was the only entry not to result in a tie.
Photos by Don Wilburn
In some cases, the wet winter weather made simpler decorations shine even brighter.
The owner of this home went the extra mile to make it as colorful and cartoonish as possible.
The theme of this joyfully joyful home was … joy.
One man enter … snowman leaves.
The incredible work this Ward 5 home put in must have taken weeks.
Kevin Lidey’s house on Rice St went for a patriotic display.
This home on Dogwood Cove was a treat for the eyes.
