NEDERLAND —The Nederland Chamber of Commerce hosted the city’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade this week, but that was just for starters. The parade kicks off a number of Christmas activities in this city.

Next up is “Light Up Nederland,” which is intended to make Nederland a destination for those who enjoy bright lights.

Kay DeCuir, director of Nederland Economic Development Corp., said it’s common practice for people here to decorate their homes with Christmas lights, inflatables and nativity scenes. A well-decorated abode or business can earn the homeowner a $500 first-place prize. Second-, third-, and fourth-places receive $400, $300 and $200, respectively.

Two separate categories are judged: homes and businesses.

The deadline to enter is Monday, but DeCuir said she would likely accept some applications after the deadline. However, judging will begin later next week.

“Each year, we use different judges,” she said. “We also keep the judges’ identity secret so people they know aren’t calling them.”

The judges carry a clipboard and a score sheet and look for themes from the car, DeCuir said.

“If there are things in the house, we focus on if we can see it from the window,” she said. “We look at to see if there is a Christmas tree. We see if there is a theme to the house. If there is so much chaos and there’s not a little theme, then it’s too cluttered and could lose points. You can gain points by having a good, defined theme.”

A home with multiple light bulbs out could also lose points.

“If it has a theme, is well lit and is nice and tidy, they’re going to do really well,” she said. “Everyone has always done a good job. It’s been hard to chose between first, second and third place.”

“We see the people asking, ‘Where are the lights?’” she said. “We want Nederland to be where the lights are. That’s why we don’t give a specific date on when the judges will be coming by. We want the lights to be on so that everyone can enjoy them.”

DeCuir said she has about 10 applications each for homes and businesses. There is no entry fee.

Forms to participate in the competition can be found online at Nededc.com or by searching for “Light Up Nederland” on Facebook.

Golf Cart Parade

It’s also time to deck the golf carts with boughs of holly for a chance at a trophy and to tour the city and look at Christmas lights. The Golf Cart Parade will take place on Dec 18 and will be the first year for a golf cart parade in Nederland. DeCuir said she got the idea after seeing a golf cart parade in Galveston for Mardi Gras.

“I told my husband this would be really fun to do in Nederland,” she said. “I’m competitive, so I wanted to make it a competition.”

DeCuir said she reached out to Nederland Police Chief Gary Porter to ask for an escort.

“We got it approved by the city and went through all of the processes we needed to,” she said. “We’re going to map out the route next week and look at the neighborhoods that are decorated a lot. There are so many.”

DeCuir said the EDC is giving three trophies for best decorated, best theme and most lights.

“We are also providing hot chocolate and popcorn so everybody can have something to eat and warm to drink when they leave here at the front of our office.”

Golf carts will be assigned a number and must comply with the city ordinance.

“It has to be a plain golf cart,” she said. “It can’t be these things that look like spiders or something from Avengers.”

The EDC will accept 45 participants this year; 17 people have submitted forms. There is a $20 fee, which goes toward paying for the parade escort.

DeCuir said she thinks the parade will last about an hour and will begin and end at the EDC office.