Holiday Home Decorations Contest

2026 CONTEST

Balboa Island Holiday Home Decorations Contest

Please read the rules and instructions. If you don’t hear back within a few hours, contact Larry Friday at (760) 220-2751 or akula1313@aol.com.

Entry application period

11/16 to 12/12

Judging period

12/10 through 12/12, 2026

Winners announced

12/14 and 12/15

Guidelines, rules, and instructions

• Participation is open to all Balboa Island residents.
• Entry applications must be received by 5 p.m. on 12/12 (Saturday).
• Contest is for exterior decorations only, including decorations in windows that are visible from the exterior. Judging will be done from outside the residence only.
• Judging will be based on curb appeal as viewed from the street only. Only decorations on the street side of the property will be judged. Corner lots will be judged from both streets.
• Judging criteria include creative use of lights and decorations, display and placement, coverage, overall appeal, and presentation.
• Preliminary judging will be done from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on December 10–12. Final judging will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on December 15.
• Participants should ensure that all lights, animations, and decorations are in place and activated for the judging periods on all nights of judging.
• The winner will have their name engraved on the BIIA Holiday Home Decorations Contest Perpetual Trophy, displayed in the Balboa Island Museum. Keepsake garden flags will be awarded to all top scoring homes.
• Winners will be announced by email and published in The Bridge.
• Participants agree to have photos of their decorated residence posted on the BIIA website or published in the BIIA newsletter or The Bridge. There will be no compensation for that posting or publication.
• Be creative, be festive, and have fun.