Submit Entry

November 28, 2025 – December 15, 2025

OFFICIAL RULES & ENTRY GUIDELINES

Light up the season, Fayette County! CVCTX is excited to host our first-ever holiday lighting contest, and we can’t wait to see your festive displays shine bright across our communities. Contest is open to all residents or businesses within the CVCTX service area (Fayette, Colorado & Lavaca counties).

Below are the official rules and guidelines for participating:

Important Dates:

• Entry Period: December 1 – December 15
• People’s Choice Voting: December 16–19 (via Facebook)
• Winners Announced: December 20 (via Facebook & personal notifications)

Contest Categories:

Participants do not need to select a category when submitting their entry.
All entries will automatically be considered for the following awards:

1. Best Overall
   Awarded to the display that stands out for creativity, visual impact, and holiday spirit.
2. Most Festive Business
   Celebrating local businesses that go above and beyond in spreading seasonal cheer.
3. People’s Choice Award
   Chosen by the community on the CVCTX Facebook page.
   Photo with the most “Likes” wins.

WINNER will have a “bragging rights” yard sign in their yard from Dec 20- Jan 5. CVCTX will deliver and pick-up the sign.

How to Enter:

To participate, applicants must:

1. Submit a photo of their holiday display thru the form or email.
2. Complete the official entry form via the CVCTX Google Form.
3. Submit entries between December 1 and December 15.
4. Only one entry per household or business.
5. Photos must be family-friendly and appropriate for all audiences.
6. CVCTX reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not follow contest rules.
7. Judging for Best Overall and Most Festive Business will be conducted by a CVCTX committee.

NOTE…Only entries received through the form will be eligible for contest.

Eligibility:

• Open to any residents or businesses located within the CVCTX service area (Fayette, Colorado & Lavaca counties).
• You do NOT have to be a CVCTX customer or member to participate.
• All displays must comply with local safety guidelines.
• All entries must be submitted via the form. See “Submit Entry” button.

Privacy & Posting:

• CVCTX will post all eligible entry photos to our Facebook page for community viewing and voting.
• We will NOT post participants’ names or addresses when sharing photos.
• By entering, participants grant CVCTX permission to display their contest photo on social media and promotional materials.

People’s Choice Voting Guidelines:

• Voting will take place on the CVCTX Facebook page only.
• The photo with the most “Likes” by 11:59 p.m. on December 19 will be named the winner.
• Shares and comments do not count toward votes—only “Likes.”

Prizes:

• People’s Choice Award: $250
• Best Overall: $150
• Most Festive Business: $150

Pick up check in the office. 

Winners will also receive recognition on CVCTX social media channels. WINNER will have a “bragging rights” yard sign in their yard from Dec 20- Jan 5. CVCTX will deliver and pick-up the sign.

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Video/ Image Tips

🎄✨ Tips for Taking Great Photos & Videos of Christmas Lights at Night

(iPhone + Android Guide)

Capturing holiday lights at night can be tricky — but with a few quick settings, your photos and videos can look bright, clear, and magical. Here’s how to get the best shot on any smartphone:

GENERAL TIPS FOR ALL PHONES

1. Steady as you go

Night photos need more time to capture light.

• Hold your phone with both hands, or rest it on a railing/car roof for stability.
• Even better: use a tripod if you have one.

2. Turn off your flash

Flash will wash out the lights and create glare.

• Make sure the flash icon shows a slash (⚡️/ ).

3. Don’t zoom in

Zoom causes blurry, grainy images.

• Move your feet instead of using digital zoom.

4. Clean your lens

Holiday baking + decorating = fingerprints.

• Wipe your lens with a soft cloth before you shoot.

5. Try different angles

• Low angle looking up
• From the side of the house
• Wide landscape shot
• A close-up of your best feature (wreath, tree, or blow molds)

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iPHONE TIPS

Using Night Mode (most iPhones 11+)

Night Mode turns on automatically in dark settings.
You’ll see a yellow moon icon in the top-left corner.

How to get the best result:

1. Tap the moon icon.
2. Adjust the exposure time (the number next to the moon):
   • Auto (1–3 sec) for simple shots
   • Longer (3–10 sec) for darker areas or dramatic lighting
3. Hold your phone steady while the timer counts down.

Adjust Exposure Manually

1. Tap on the brightest part of your display (like the lights).
2. A small sun icon  appears — slide it down to reduce brightness and avoid blown-out highlights.

For Video

1. Switch to Video mode.
2. Turn on Cinematic Mode (if available):
   Creates smoother, more dynamic low-light video.
3. Walk slowly — phone will adjust to lighting changes.

ANDROID TIPS (Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, etc.)

Use Night Mode / Night Sight

Android phones also have a dedicated low-light mode.

Samsung:

1. Open Camera
2. Swipe to “More” → Select Night

Google Pixel:

1. Open Camera
2. Tap Night Sight
3. Hold still for a few seconds while the phone processes

This reduces noise and makes colors pop.

Adjust Exposure + Focus

1. Tap on the lights to set focus.
2. Look for a brightness slider next to the focus box.
   Slide down to avoid blown-out lights. 
3. Slide up if the background is too dark.

Turn on HDR (if available)

HDR helps balance bright lights with darker skies.

Samsung:
Settings (⚙️) → HDR (rich tone) → On

Pixel:
HDR is usually automatic.

Video Tips for Android

1. Switch to Video mode.
2. Turn on Super Steady (Samsung) or Stabilization (Pixel).
3. Slowly pan left or right for smooth, professional-looking footage.