Santa's Claus-et captures award in Christmas decorating contest
By Jeaneane Payne

Santa's Claus-et has been fully exposed in Gatlinburg this year capturing the city's Craftsmen's Award in the 2012-13 Gatlinburg Winter Magic Decorating Contest. The Craftsmen's Award goes to the best decorated business in the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community which is located in the Glades Community off Highway 321.

Santa's Claus-et

The Village in downtown Gatlinburg took 1st place for Best Decorated Mall in the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Decorating Contest. View larger image Kingwood Inn in Gatlinburg took 1st place for Best Accommodation Display (less than 99 rooms) in the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Decorating Contest.		Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies took 1st place for Best Attractions Display in the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Decorating Contest. View larger image

Gatlinburg is not only lit up with many Christmas decorations, it beams with over a million LED lights for its annual Winterfest which takes place from early November through the end of February. Lighting displays are marked by sections reminiscent of winter forests, evergreens and romance.

Winterfest displays feature animals indigenous to Great Smoky Mountains National Park including deer, foxes, squirrels and rabbits, with the length of the Parkway accentuated by branches and scrolls. The newest light displays include fanciful snowmen, dancing fountains, a group of international children, and a shiny rocking horse.

The judges for the Gatlinburg Winter Magic Decorating Contest were representatives from the Gatlinburg Garden Club who personally inspected all the entries and scored them accordingly. Categories included displays of many kinds entered in retail, attraction, service, restaurant and lodging divisions. Entries were judged based on four criteria: Overall Appearance, Originality and Creativity, Theme and Quality of Display.

Winners were announced by the Special Events Office of the Gatlinburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.

While Santa's Claus-et was the big winner, additional winners included Kingwood Inn, Clarion Inn & Suites, Gatlinburlier Tobacconist, The Silver Tree, The Village, Log Cabin Pancake House, and Sheer Envy Hair & Nails.

Published December 12, 2012