Belle Mayor Josh Seaver encourages community members and businesses to paint the town festive with a decoration contest.

“This year for Christmas, we are going to have a monetary award for the Christmas decoration contest,” Seaver said, adding, “Businesses are allowed to participate in a separate category. The business with the best decorations will have bragging rights and a traveling trophy they can display.”

Seaver said the town used to go all-out with decorating, but in recent years, things have changed. He wants to change it back.

“The whole point of this was to get people doing stuff again,” he said. “Going all-out with Christmas decorations and Halloween — people just don’t do it anymore.”

Seaver started the Christmas decorating contest last year and decided to make it an annual event while he is in office. Rules for the second annual Christmas Decorating Contest are as follows:

• Participants must be registered no later than 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20.

• Participants must be inside the city limits of Belle.

• Please be respectful of the neighbors.

• Have fun. Creativity is strongly encouraged.

A twist from last year, businesses will be allowed to participate. They are expected to register and follow the same rules and individuals with one exception: window decorations and displays may also be entered.

To register for the event, write the participant’s name and address on a notecard or slip of paper and drop it off at the Belle City Administration Building. Or send information via Messenger to Josh Seaver, Mayor, Belle Missouri, Facebook page.

Judging will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. The winners will be awarded that evening and posted to the mayor’s Facebook page.

The contest begins Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving.