On a cold and breezy December night, the North Catasauqua Betterment Committee set out to judge the Eighth Annual North Catasauqua small Town USA Holiday Home Decorating Contest. The judging committee viewed the more than 30 homes entered in this year's contest, the most entries ever submitted.

The displays varied from simple to "going all out" as they helped to make the borough sparkle and shine bright this year for the holiday season and made the selection of winners difficult.

Mike Hacker was awarded the prize for the first-place large residence.

"This holiday display was fun and colorful," the judges said. "Done in LED lights, the display includes blinking mini Mickey lights and a waving Santa."

First-place small residence honors went to Glenn and Angela Shook, whose display included a Ferris wheel, a really big Santa, a merry-go-round and lots of holiday characters.

Among the highlights of other entries were a Christmas hippo, a panda, a moose and pig at one home, beautiful manger scenes at a few homes, lots of polar bears and snowmen, and even some dinosaurs at one home.

Judges saw many uses of Christmas lights, both LED and "old school" C9 bulbs.

Overall, the displays were neatly done with a creative use of lights, lawn ornaments, and color schemes and ranged from very simple to over-the-top.

This year's contest winners will receive gift cards and, for the first-place winners, a framed photo of their home.

North Catasauqua Betterment Committee Chairman Joseph T. Keglovits said it was a challenge to select the winners this year, as all of the contestants had wonderful, creative displays.

"The homeowners are getting more creative and elaborate with their displays," he said. "We can only pick four winners, but everyone who entered is definitely a winner in my mind.

"North Catasauqua is no doubt a small borough, but we have many residents who really like to decorate compared to other towns in the areas."

Many of the contestants seemed to use themes this year or used color schemes to decorate their homes. Many of the homes again this year were nominated on Facebook via the North Catasauqua page by neighbors and friends.

Along with the many beautifully decorated homes that are in small Town USA this Christmas season, officially 108 snowflakes shine throughout the borough on street poles, courtesy of snowflake sponsors.

The North Catasauqua Betterment Committee paid for the electrical drop hookups from PPL for the eight new snowflakes added this year.

The homes of the winners and all of the contestants may be viewed as part of a Holiday Lights Self Tour through the end of the holiday season. The public is invited to stop by North Catasauqua Borough Hall and pick up a tour guide that allows them to travel around the borough in their own car at their own pace. The free guides are available on the front porch of North Catasauqua Borough Hall located at 1066 Fourth Street or visit www.NorthCatasauquaBettermentCommittee.webs.com online to print out your own copy at home.