Usually, the only award for a nice holiday lighting display is its attractive appearance. Now, the best displays can win $100.

The Ames Municipal Electric System and KASI 1430 AM are sponsoring “The Ames Area Holiday Lights Contest.” Entries must be submitted by Dec. 17.

Bobby Hacker, program director for KASI, is overseeing the contest.

He said part of the reason for holding it is to emphasize the lighting in the newly remodeled downtown Ames.

“It was something that the city of Ames wanted to do in [conjunction] with the celebration of the completion of the Main Street work,” he said.

Prizes of $100 will be awarded to the winner in each of the categories: Best Residential Display, Best Business Display and the Clark W. Griswold Award for most outlandish display.

The entries will be rated by a panel of celebrity judges, including Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco.

“First of all, in both the Best Residential and Best Business categories, it’ll be looking at how well the lights are used in their particular use,” Tedesco said. “Then, in the Clark W. Griswold Award, that is for the gaudiest, most outrageous-looking.”

The best neighborhood also will be selected, and KASI will broadcast live from that neighborhood the night of Dec. 20.

Hacker said he would like the lighting contest to continue in the future.

“It’s a nice holiday event that we hope to do each year,” he said.

So far, Hacker said, at least 60 displays have been nominated.

“There are about 10 to 15 in each category that the public has called in, plus we’ve been keeping an eye on decorated homes and businesses ourselves,” he said.

Iowa State students are welcome to participate in the contest, Hacker said.

“We’d love to have fraternities, sororities, if several students have a house together and they have some lighting,” he said. “We’d love to have as much of the college as possible.”

Tedesco said he hopes everyone will take the time to enjoy all the lighting displays.

“I think it’s great that the people this year have decorated a lot for the holiday season, and the citizens need to get out and take a look at the time and money people have put into these displays,” he said.

Nominations can be submitted by calling KASI at 232-1430 or faxing to 232-1439.

Entries also can be mailed to 1430 KASI, 415 Main St., Ames, IA 50010.