Voting opens for the Hastings Holiday Lights contest

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - The city of Hastings is asking for the public’s help in deciding who the winner of the 2024 holiday lights contest is, with eight houses vying for votes this year.

Anyone who visits the sites, you’ll see things like a giant Frosty the Snow Man, skiing penguins, and a light show synced up with music you can play on your car radio.

This is a long standing tradition with the city, and Recreation Superintendent for the city of Hastings, Steve Farrens said the Parks and Rec Department is always thinking of activates to do when the weather turns colder.

“When the weather is what Nebraska gives us in December, you have to kind of look at your programming and say, what can we do that’s going to be fulfilling,” Farrens said. “Having a lights contest around town, you’re going to be in a car, you’re driving around, we’ve got these great new maps to kind of give people the direction that they need to go in order to see every house, but you can do that from the warmth of your car.”

Farrens said this always makes for a fun event.

“It’s one of those events that it’s a free event for the community, it brings people together, it brings neighborhoods together,” Farrens said. “It’s definitely one of those things we’re looking for when we’re coming up with some of our programming is like how can we get involved with the community in a way that everyone’s having a great time.”

If someone wants to cast a vote for one of the houses, Farrens explains how that works.

“We really like to have the community vote, it’s very rewarding for the family and friends of every entry to get the opportunity to vote, and we do that on Facebook,” Farrens said. “We have a point for a like, two points for a comment, three points for a share, and we do that over a course of five days.”

Here is a link to the city of Hastings Facebook page, plus below is a map of the locations included in the contest.

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