Show us your holiday spirit! A Mount Prospect classic, the Special Events Commission is once again holding the Holiday House Decorating Contest for 2025. The contest is open to all properties in the Village, whether you rent or own a home, condo, or apartment or operate a business.

Registration - New Format!

Registration is free and mandatory. To sign up, simply provide us with a snapshot of your festive decorations, along with your name, address, and contact details. If you prefer, visit Village Hall for a paper copy. Registration will be open from November 17-December 7 (2025).

We're pleased to utilize a new registration format that automatically maps properties and showcases more than one photo (maximum three). Fill out the registration form here.  

Following approval, your display will be visible on the public map.  

Holiday House Map
Unless specified otherwise, all registered properties are included on our Holiday House map, allowing your neighbors to enjoy your decorations while out caroling or strolling our winter wonderland! 

There are a few ways to access the map:

• Interactive story map (addresses, photos, and captions - displays will show up as they are submitted)
• PDF map (addresses - can be downloaded or picked up as a hard copy at Village Hall)

The PDF map will be available after registration closes. Submissions auto-populate on the online map. 

Categories

Award categories include:

• Best Decorated Business
• Best Decorated Block
• Simple But Elegant
• Griswold Family House Award
• Most Festive
• Most Spiritual
• People's Choice
  • Voting runs from December 10-16. It will take place online through our registration system instead of Facebook.

*One prize per entry

Judging

Our panel of judges from the Special Events Commission will cast visit homes December 13 and 14, and winners will be announced on December 19. Winners will not only receive a yard sign to proudly display throughout the season but also gain the ultimate bragging rights and a special shout-out on the Village’s communications channels! Winners will be recognized at a Village Board meeting in January.

Questions 

Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to Special Events Commission Staff Liaison Kylie Cerk at specialevents@mountprospect.org or call 847.818.5201.