11/25/2009

This year, the Mad River Valley will be alight with beauty and holiday charm during the Sugarbush Festival of Lights. Along Valley gateways -- from Moretown to Warren -- homes, shops, businesses and trees will be lit, bowed, ornamented, garlanded and bedecked. 

Cash prizes totaling over $6,000 will be awarded. And as soon as 50 participants are registered for the event, another $1,000 will be donated to the Mad River Valley Community Fund.

In its fifth year, the theme of the Sugarbush Festival of Lights will be "Bells, Boughs & Bows."

Routes where entries will be judged include:

• Route 100 from Moretown/Duxbury town line south to Warren/Granville town line.

• Route 100B Moretown to Middlesex town line.

• Waitsfield's Bridge Street, East Warren Road (including Roxbury Gap-Roxbury/Warren town line) through Warren Village.

• From Mad River Glen, east along Route 17 to Route 100, German Flats Road,
Sugarbush Access Road to Lincoln Peak, including Sugarbush Village.

Judges will be chosen from throughout The Valley's artistic community. All cash awards will be made as contributions made in the winners' name to the Mad River Valley 501c3 nonprofit of the winners' choice.

If 50 or more participants are registered by December 4, a donation of $1,000 will be awarded to the Mad River Valley Community Fund. Registration closes on December 11 and judging takes place December 12 and 13. Winners will be announced at the Sugarbush Festival of Lights holiday party and Chamber of Commerce mixer at Timbers Restaurant at Sugarbush on December 16.

The Sugarbush Festival of Lights Holiday Decorating Contest is open to residents and business owners whose properties and/or premises are located along the gateway routes listed above. A map will be available on the Sugarbush and Chamber of Commerce websites or at the Chamber office. Register by phone, 496-3409, or in person at the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce. Lights must be lit no later than 6 p.m. daily and decorations must remain in place through January 2, 2010. Winners will be published in the December 17 edition of The Valley Reporter, on www.madrivervalley.com and www.sugarbush.com.