LIGHT UP OUR CITY
A Community
Christmas Tree Decorating Program
City of
Hogansville, Georgia
Help Us Create a Christmas Tree That Is Truly Our Own!
The City of Hogansville invites residents, families,
students, schools, businesses, organizations, and neighborhoods to participate
in our “Light Up Our City” Community Christmas Tree Decorating Program!
We want our community to come together to create a beautiful
Christmas tree filled with handmade ornaments that celebrate Hogansville, our
hometown pride, and the magic of the Christmas season.
MAKE IT.
WEATHERPROOF IT. SHARE IT.
1. Community Ornament Guidelines
All submitted ornaments should feature a Christmas or
winter-inspired theme, with participants encouraged to incorporate a special
connection to Hogansville. We welcome creative designs that celebrate the
holiday season while reflecting the hometown pride, traditions, and unique
character of our community.
Participants are especially encouraged to incorporate
recognizable elements of Hogansville, such as our hummingbird symbol, City
logo, local landmarks, historic charm, or other meaningful representations of
our community, into their festive designs.
While a Hogansville connection is encouraged, it is not
required. Our goal is to celebrate the creativity, Christmas spirit, and
hometown pride of the people who make Hogansville special!
All ornaments MUST meet the following requirements:
- Measure 8–12 inches overall, with approximately 10 inches recommended.
- Weigh
approximately 2 pounds or less.
- Be
constructed using durable, outdoor-safe materials.
- Be
weatherproof and able to withstand rain, wind, moisture, cold
temperatures, and sunlight.
- Have a strong, weather-resistant attachment point suitable for hanging securely on the City's Christmas tree.
- Be
free of sharp edges, breakable glass, loose pieces, or other potential
hazards.
- Be
family-friendly and appropriate for public display.
- Include
a completed participant submission form securely attached with a removable
string or tag.
Recommended materials: Treated wood,
weather-resistant plastics, outdoor fabric, aluminum, outdoor-rated rope or
cord, corrosion-resistant hardware, and exterior-grade paints or finishes.
2. Submission Deadline & Drop-Off Locations
FINAL
DEADLINE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2026, AT 1:00 PM
All ornaments must be received by the City before the
deadline to qualify for judging.
Primary Drop-Off Location — City Hall
City of Hogansville City Hall
111 High Street
Hogansville, GA 30230
Regular Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
After-Hours & Weekend Drop-Off — Hogansville Police Department
Hogansville Police Department
117 Lincoln Street
Hogansville, GA 30230
Ornaments may also be delivered to the Hogansville Police
Department before 8:30 AM, after 5:00 PM, or on weekends.
Participants are encouraged to submit their ornaments early
to ensure they arrive before the deadline.
IMPORTANT: Judging will begin on Monday, November 30,
2026, at 2:00 PM. Late submissions will not be eligible for judging.
3. Age Divisions
Participants will compete within the following four age
divisions:
- Elementary
School
- Middle
School
- High
School
- Adults,
Families, Clubs, Civic Organizations & Other Community Participants
Each ornament must be entered into the appropriate age or
participant division. Participants should include their age or grade level,
along with their school, club, organization, or group affiliation, if
applicable.
4. Judged Award Categories & Overall Grand Prize
The Community Christmas Tree Committee will use the
following three categories as the criteria for determining first, second, and
third place within each age division, as well as one Overall Grand Prize Winner
selected from all eligible submissions.
Most Creative Ornament Award
Recognizes the most unique, imaginative, and original
ornament design. This award celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and thinking
outside the box.
Hogansville Hometown Spirit Award
Recognizes the ornament that best represents Hogansville's history, character, traditions, landmarks, or community pride. This award celebrates what makes our city special.
Spirit of Christmas Award
Recognizes the ornament that best captures the warmth, joy,
generosity, and togetherness of the Christmas season. This award celebrates the
holiday spirit that brings our community together.
Overall Grand Prize — Light Up Our City Best in Show
Recognizes one exceptional ornament from across all four age divisions that best combines creativity, craftsmanship, Hogansville hometown pride, and the spirit of Christmas. This special award celebrates the ornament that most embodies the heart and purpose of the “Light Up Our City” program.
The three judging categories will guide the committee's overall evaluation of each eligible ornament. First, second, and third place winners will be selected within each age division, and one Overall Grand Prize Winner will be chosen from all eligible ornaments, regardless of age division.
5. Awards & Prizes
Participants will be recognized within their respective age
divisions, with prizes awarded as follows:
Elementary School Division
- 1st Place — $50 Gift Card
- 2nd Place — $25 Gift Card
- 3rd Place — $15 Gift Card
Middle School Division
- 1st Place — $50 Gift Card
- 2nd Place — $25 Gift Card
- 3rd Place — $15 Gift Card
High School Division
- 1st Place — $50 Gift Card
- 2nd Place — $25 Gift Card
- 3rd Place — $15 Gift Card
Adult Division
- 1st Place — $50 Gift Card
- 2nd Place — $25 Gift Card
- 3rd Place — $15 Gift Card
6. Overall Grand Prize — A Special Christmas Night Out!
One outstanding ornament will be selected as the 2026
Light Up Our City Grand Prize Winner!
The Grand Prize Winner will receive:
FOUR (4) TICKETS to see Michelle Malone & The
Hot Toddies perform at the historic Royal Theater in Hogansville on Saturday,
December 5, 2026, followed by a showing of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!
And the Christmas festivities don't stop there! 🎄
The City of Hogansville will also be hosting its Annual
Christmas Market and Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 5, 2026, with the
parade beginning at 6:00 PM!
Make a whole evening of it! Enjoy the holiday shopping and
festive atmosphere at our Christmas Market, celebrate with the community at our
annual Christmas Parade, and then head over to the historic Royal Theater for a
special night of live music and a Christmas movie favorite!
It's a wonderful way to celebrate the season, support our local community, and make some special Christmas memories right here in Hogansville!
The Overall Grand Prize Winner will be awarded to the
ornament that best brings together all three judging categories: creativity and
originality, Hogansville hometown pride, and the spirit of Christmas. Making an
ornament into one exceptional design that demonstrates outstanding
craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a meaningful representation of what
makes Hogansville special during the holiday season.
The Grand Prize Winner will be selected from all eligible
age divisions!
7. Ornament Review & Judging
Judging will begin on Monday, November 30, 2026, at 2:00
PM.
The Community Christmas Tree Committee will review all submissions to ensure they meet the program's requirements before considering them for awards.
Judging considerations include:
- Compliance
with size and weight requirements
- Weather
resistance and overall durability
- Safe
construction and secure hanging attachment
- Originality,
creativity, and craftsmanship
- Connection
to Hogansville and community pride
- Appropriateness
for a family-friendly public display
- Overall
appearance and suitability for outdoor installation
All ornaments must meet the required safety and
submission criteria to be eligible for judging and awards.
The committee reserves the right to decline any submission that does not meet the program's requirements.
8. Required Participant Information
Every submitted ornament MUST include a completed
participant submission form containing:
- Participant's full name
- Age
division
- Grade
level, if applicable
- School
or organization, if applicable
- Email
address
- Phone
number
- Ornament
title or theme
The completed form should be attached to the ornament using
a string or removable tag that can be easily removed before the ornament
is placed on the Christmas tree.
Printable submission forms will be available for
participants to complete at home. Forms may also be picked up and completed at
either of the designated drop-off locations.
Please do not permanently glue or attach the
submission form to the ornament.
9. Building a Hogansville Christmas Tradition
Our hope is to make “Light Up Our City” an annual tradition that brings our community together through creativity, hometown pride, and the spirit of Christmas.
Selected ornaments may also be preserved as part of a growing Hogansville Community Christmas Collection, allowing pieces of our community's creativity to return to the tree for years to come.
This isn't simply a Christmas tree the City decorates for its residents. It's Hogansville's Christmas tree, created by the people who call Hogansville home!
For questions or additional information, please contact:
Oasis Nichols, Assistant City Manager
Phone: 706-637-8629
Email: Oasis.Nichols@cityofhogansville.org
FOR SUBMISSION FORM, CLICK HERE!