MARSHALL — In a new event and contest that residents of Marshall can join in on to give back to the community and engage in the holiday cheer, Marshall Festivals will be hosting a Colors of Winter – Holiday House Light Competition throughout December.

“I really think we can showcase Marshall on our festivity and our Christmas spirit, and the spirit of Marshall in general,” Marshall Festivals committee member and event organizer Marc Klaith said. “We just want to continue to do other events in Marshall, like this. It’s something fun, and we want to give back to Marshall, too.”

Anyone in Marshall can register their home with a $25 donation, and must be decorated by Dec. 10. House locations and information will be listed on the Marshall Sounds of Summer or Colors of Winter Facebook page.

“We’re going to have some people in the community go out and judge the houses this year,” Klaith said.

There will be three awarded houses, each earning a prize. There will be one house named for the “Griswold Award,” another for the “Deck the Halls Award,” and a final winner for the “Grinch Award.”

“We’re going to have a trophy for the first place house,” Klaith said. “We’ll do plaques for the other two winners.”

With the help from the community, some participants will also receive gift baskets filled with gift cards and other items from local businesses.

Houses in the contest will also have a sign in front of them, so anyone can partake in browsing around the decorations with easy access.

All proceeds from the contest will be donated.

“We wanted to help another organization in the Marshall area,” Klaith said. “So, we decided that the proceeds would go to Prairie Home Hospice and Heart to Heart.”

Checks to enter into the contest must be mailed to PO Box 1310, Marshall, MN 56258, written out to Marshall Festivals. Those interested can register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd52f3GMUMIgvnF2i97z64u6KNEoCUXQf6H4vUZ8fHTSZmb6w/viewform.

Houses will be judged Dec. 19 and 20. More information can be found on the Facebook pages or by contacting anyone on the Sounds of Summer committee, the same as Marshall Festivals.

The contest is supported by AP Design, Henle Printing, Marshall Festivals, Marshall Independent, Marshall Radio, Mattress Barn, Plunkett’s Pest Control, Sky Printing, Small Town Events and Visit Marshall.