Arts Festival ‘Puttin’ on the Glitz’ with Second Annual Holiday Decoration Contest

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts is inviting community members to take part in its second annual holiday decorations contest.

Dubbed “Puttin’ on the Glitz,” the contest is held in conjunction with the festival’s First Night State College. Applications are open through Dec. 10 at arts-festival.com/puttin-on-the-glitz and any residential property in Centre County is eligible — single family homes, duplexes and even apartment balconies— as long as decorations are visible from the street or sidewalk. Groups of homes are also eligible if the properties adjoin.

The entry fee is $10 for a single home and $20 for a group of homes.

“Last year was our first year for this contest. It was the perfect thing for a socially distanced world—you could drive around in your car and check out the entries,” Arts Festival Director Rick Bryant said in a press release. “This year, since people have seen how much fun it was, we’re hoping for an even stronger response.”

A panel of five judges will visit the entries separately, then will meet online to select the winners and award prizes.

The judges will award prizes in two categories: traditional and contemporary decorations. In addition to winners, runners-up and honorable mentions, they also will award prizes for best use of color, best use of technology, best use of traditional materials, and overall “wow” factor.

Judges for the contest are:

Amy Caputo, communications manager, Schlow Centre Region Library, State College

Mel Curtis, YMCA Anti-Hunger Program director, YMCA of Centre County, Philipsburg

Lori Fisher, deputy director, Bellefonte Art Museum, Bellefonte

Kelly Hughes, office manager, Student Book Store, State College

Karl Eric Leitzel, partner, Green Drake Gallery, Millheim.

For more information, visit the Arts Festival website.

First Night State College, produced by the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, will take place in downtown State College on Dec. 31.