These Brockton homes and businesses were voted as having the best holiday lights displays

BROCKTON − Which house in the city has the best holiday display? The Brockton Beautification Committee thinks it knows.

That's because the committee held a holiday decorating contest for residents and businesses to help spread the holiday spirit throughout the city.

Chairman Matt Stanton said committee members were thinking of what things they could do to bring "a little joy" to the city and bring people together. Other members include Kelly Hanlon, Linda Pietrantonio, Shareefah Mapp, Peg Kearny, Patrick Sullivan, Patrick Hill (Department of Public Works commissioner) and City Councilor Jeff Thompson.

"We all thought the contest was a great idea,” Stanton said.

City neighborhoods that have been decked out in lights and decorations entered as part of the contest.

The contest consisted of four categories: lights, lawn décor, entry way and business.

Judges viewed homes and lawns adorned with colorful strings of lights, inflatables, Santa, Frosty the Snowman, candy canes, Christmas Nutcracker soldiers and more.

Gary Pettiford, who won first place in the lights category, has been decorating his house since the 1980s. Pettiford said he heard about the contest from his mailman, who calls him "the Griswolds," and encouraged him to enter, he said.

Centerville Auto on Main Street entered the competition and won first place in the business category with an old wrecker decorated in lights.

The Fire Museum & Historical Society also entered the contest. The building is decorated with white lights and candles in the windows that looks “very New England, very traditional," committee member Kearny said.

Stanton said he thinks the decorations bring "a little joy and a little light to the city."

Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan said the Beautification Committee "has done a fantastic job this year, culminating in the holiday decoration contest."

"The friendly competition added an extra layer of excitement to all of Brockton's Holiday traditions, and gave avid decorators a chance to show off their work," Sullivan said in a written statement.

Ashley McAvoy won first place for her lawn decorations.

"We decorate for Christmas every year," McAvoy said. "My family has been having a rough time this year, so I wanted Christmas to be a little bigger and brighter, so we bought a few more items."

"Then the contest came out and I thought it would be a nice little win for us," she said. "I really appreciate the win. I love seeing the families that come by every year. I love seeing families making memories together."

Stanton said the contest was more successful than he thought it would be with about 50 to 60 entries.

"We thought we'd get about 15 to 20 entries because we started planning the contest late. We really weren’t sure what the response was going to be," he said.

The entries were judged by members of the Bridgewater and Attleboro garden clubs.

"We didn’t want to be seen as biased," Stanton said. "It was tough a decision for the judges."

Two second prizes were awarded in each category because the judging was so close, and because the city had enough prizes to give out, Stanton said.

"They all did a great job, they really did," the chairman said.

Sullivan said he thanks every member of the Beautification Committee for the "time and effort they put into this very successful event, and the mayor encourages all residents "to drive around our wonderful City to view all of the magical lights and decorations."

Holiday decorating contest winners

Lawn décor

First prize: 11 Leahy Road

Second prize: 25 Bark Circle and 24 Bark Circle

Third prize: 27 Green Place

Lights

First prize: 101 Lisa Drive

Second prize: 33 Mayotte Circle and 987 Ash St.

Third prize: 28 Marsden St.

First place winner Gary Pettiford said he wasn't expecting it, but "it’s nice to win." His wife, Christine, is "very excited to win" because, "Gary works hard at it,” she said.

Entry way

First prize: 126 Edson St.

Second prize: 148 Park Road and 128 Leah Drive

Third prize: 10 Greenbriar Road

Business winners

First prize: Centerville Auto

Second prize: Fire Museum & Historical Society and John’s Greenhouse

Third prize: Campello Coin Laundry

The winners will receive gift certificates from Sharon Credit Union and NE Development (Westgate Mall) coordinated by City Council President Susan Nicastro.

“Hopefully, more people will participate next year," Stanton said.

The contest will be advertised on the Brockton city Facebook page, he said.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.