Chamber of Commerce announces winners of holiday lighting contest

Justin and Toni Winkler emerged victorious in this year’s holiday lighting contest sponsored by the Greybull Area Chamber of Commerce. The Winklers, now in their second year competing, took first place, followed by Magdalena Harlow in second and Maria Rivera in third.

The winners were notified last week by Sherri Wilkinson and the Chamber following an evaluation by local judges. 

“We have a lot of fun with it,” said Justin Winkler of their home’s holiday decorations. “We don’t do it for the competition, we do it for fun.”

The Winklers, who relocated into town after more than two decades spent on a property outside of Greybull’s limits, said they’ve always enjoyed designing elaborate Christmas décor and improving year after year.

Their home, located at 300 Fourth Ave. N., featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse in a hot rod, Zero, the loyal ghost dog from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Lightning McQueen from Pixar’s “Cars,” polar bears and other inflatables in the yard. Snowflakes, holly garland and lights hung from their porch and coiled around their trees while a projector cast snowflakes on their home’s eastern wall. 

“Maybe it’s the kid in my heart, but I just love seeing Christmas lights,” Winkler said.

“It’s really nice getting feedback from our neighbors, too,” he added. “We had a car full of four or five teenagers stop the one night and we didn’t get to go out and see them, but they started clapping, and said, ‘Merry Christmas!’ before they drove off.”

Harlow’s home, at 500 Seventh Ave. N., is ringed with warm candle-shaped lights. Her yard is filled with a cheerful assortment of nutcrackers, snowmen and penguins. She also arranged a Nativity scene in her yard with the Three Wisemen presenting their gifts to the infant Christ child. 

Rivera, who lives at 25 N. Third St., brought a sense of playfulness to the competition with Santa Claus in a speedboat set in front of her home. Icicle lights illuminated her home’s façade while light-up deer, snowmen and inflatables filled in the rest of the space.

The Winklers, reflecting on their year, said they were grateful for the chance to spend their holiday season with their family and looking forward to Christmas.

“Holidays mean enjoying family,” said Justin. “We’ve been lucky enough to have our family here in town — and our grandkids, too — so we’ve been blessed to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas with them. (This season is) about relaxing and being together.”

The contest was sponsored by the Big Horn Co-op, Big Horn Federal, the Historic Hotel Greybull, Lisa’s Restaurant, Queen Bee Gardens and the Town of Greybull.