RIVER FALLS – Tis the season to get out your holiday lights and go all “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” for the Third Annual Light Up River Falls Contest and a chance to win prizes and community bragging rights.

Organizer and River Falls resident Jasen Cook is hoping to make this year’s contest bigger and better than ever. He has also eliminated the sign-up deadline so as to get more entries.

“We’re about two weeks away before voting starts. I’ve only received eight entries so far compared to the 20 at this time last year,” Cook said on the group’s Facebook page. “Please spread the word; everyone looks forward to driving around to look at the displays.”

This year’s contest boasts three categories: Business, traditional, or animated/color changing.

“This year instead of having one category, I decided to add three categories to help make it more interesting to people to want to enter,” Cook said.

The first-place prize in the traditional and animated/color changing categories is $50 in local business gift cards; second place in both categories is $30. The first-place winners will also be featured in next year’s River Dazzle parade, held the Friday after Thanksgiving each year. This will be an annual part of the contest.

Cook has partnered with the River Falls Business Leaders, a group of business leaders who support River Falls commerce and business growth, to provide the prizes to winners.

Cook loves to decorate and will do so this year, though his home at 272 Walnut Hill Way will not be in the contest. He wants other people to wear the winner crown.

“People should enter to show their holiday spirit and the time and effort they put in for people to see,” Cook said. “It can be time consuming and somewhat of a challenge to install lights, so why not let people know to look at it?”

Cook likes seeing how happy people are as they drive around looking at the different displays. He has received notes in his mailbox expressing appreciation and has saved them all.

“I love the joy that this event brings to others. I have decided to have our house available to view and no longer have our house in the competition so that way it’s fair for others and this way I hope others will join. I also want to focus more of my time to be able to make this event bigger and better,” he said.

Voting will commence Dec. 6 and continues through Dec. 19.

To register your display, go to https://forms.gle/y6f4C82Wr9MyBkQUA

To vote, go to https://forms.gle/veJKYbQm5ozbSgpF7

To see the list of participants once voting starts, visit https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1H2NGP3Ew5/