PHOTOS: Light Up Ohio County Residential Holiday Decorating Winners & Light Trail Announced

Rising Sun is a good place to go to see holiday lights.

Joe & Lisa Lewis win First Place in the 2023 Light Up Ohio County Residential Holiday Decorating Contest and Light Trail. Photo by Kendal R. Miller. 

Ohio County Tourism, Inc., announces the winners of the 2023 Light Up Ohio County Residential Holiday Decorating Contest and Light Trail.

Fourteen applications were submitted into this year’s competition. Any resident located within in the Ohio County limits was eligible to apply.

“What a tough call for our judges. There were so many festive homes registered, I can certainly understand them telling me that it was hard to narrow it down to only three winners,” said Kendal Miller, executive director for Ohio County Tourism.

Two honorable mentions and two Neighborhood Awards were also given.

The first place winners were Joe & Lisa Lewis of South Poplar Street in Rising Sun. The front of the house is decorated, which is viewable from the alley that faces Front Street. The Lewis’s were first time participants in the Light Up event.

Second Place house. Photo by Kendal R. Miller.

Additional winners include: Mark Abplanalp, located at North High Street winning second place; Kevin & Monica Klingelhoffer of North Poplar Street placing third. Honorable mentions went to Brian Gregory of South Walnut Street and Emily Warner of Burgess Avenue. All residences are located in Rising Sun.

The top three winners and honorable mentions received cash prizes. Neighborhood award winners received “bragging rights.”

Two Neighborhood Awards went to Burgess Avenue winning the Holiday Cheer, and Elliott’s Landing garnering the Shiny & Bright Award.

Additional homes on the Light Trail include: 309 South High Street; 401 South Walnut Street; 714 Burgess Avenue; 612 Wilson Street; 1300 Finn Lane; 1220 & 1230 Huckleberry Lane; 2147 Salem Ridge Road and 3995 Coy Hill Road. Tune your radio in to 88.1 for the Coy Hill location.

Third place house. Kendal R. Miller.

Miller observed that there are a large number of residences that are decorated but were not entered into the contest.

“Ohio County is shining bright! I hope everyone is enjoying all the festive lights and decorations as much as I am. I thank everyone who took the time, effort and expense to make Ohio County so festive this Christmas season,” said Miller.

Participants in the annual Decorating Contest and Light Trail were asked to keep their lights up until January 1, 2024; however, this is not mandatory.

Information on additional Rising Sun/Ohio County events, lodging, shops, eateries, and landmarks, log on to the enjoyrisingsun.com website, follow the Rising Sun-Ohio County Tourism Facebook page, drop by the 217 N. High Street Visitors Center on Tuesday-Friday from 10am-4:30pm or call (812) 438-4933.