City Opens Voting For Christmas Window Contest

The City of Hamilton has officially opened public voting for the 2023 City Christmas Window Decorating Contest, featuring 27 participating businesses.

A spokesperson said, “The City of Hamilton today declared public voting open for the 2023 City Christmas Window Decorating Contest! 27 City businesses entered the festive competition this year, which sees awesome prizes awarded to winners for the best Christmas window displays, including a donation from the City to a charity of the winner’s choice.”

The City is excited to announce this year’s participating stores:

• Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty
• Davidrose Studio
• Dellwood Middle School
• DEMCO to Go
• Glaze Church Street
• Sleeper’s Paradise
• TABS Bermuda
• Waterfront Man
• Habitat for Humanity of Bermuda
• Escape Room Bermuda
• Discovery Wines & Spirits
• Treats Limited
• DHL Express Bermuda
• Marks and Spencer
• Nest, Bermuda
• Cassine
• Gibbons Company
• FRESH
• 1609 Design
• The Little Buttery
• Gosling’s Limited
• Bermuda Bookstore
• Misaki Restaurant
• The Island Shop
• Indigo Song
• Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery
• My Closet

“We are thrilled about the number of entries this year, which is the most we have had in the past five years,” said the City’s Marketing Coordinator Sideya Dill. “Each year, the contest aims to help the public get into the holiday spirit and encourage shoppers to buy locally and support our Hamilton businesses. 2023’s contest has brought a good mix of first-time participants as well as veterans and past winners of the competition. We also have our first school entry this year; it is exciting to see Bermuda’s youth getting involved in helping us spread some holiday cheer around Hamilton’s streets.”

The spokesperson said, “There are two contest categories –

• Best Christmas Window 2023 [selected by a panel of industry-relevant judges]
• People’s Choice [selected by the general public through a City-hosted voting process]

“To cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award, either scan the barcode displayed in any participating store window or visit the City’s website to cast your vote online with just one click.

“Voting opened today and will close on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at noon.

“The City is also delighted to reveal this year’s judging panel:

“Lorraine Shailer is the Director of Retail at the Hamilton Princess. Lorraine has worked in retail and fashion for over twenty years in Europe and Bermuda. She began her Bermuda retail career as the Assistant Buyer at Marks & Spencer on Reid Street. In 10 years, she worked her way up to Buyer and later became General Manager at Marks & Spencer, where she was responsible for all buying and store operations. Currently, Lorraine is the Director of Retail at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club and successfully launched the Hotel’s retail arcade.

“Cyniqua Anderson is the Lead Designer & Creative Director at Just Dreams. Cyniqua founded Just Dreams in 2017 driven by a passion for event planning and design. What started as a hobby, quickly grew into one of Bermuda’s leading event design companies. Since Just Dreams’ inception, Cyniqua has been the driving force behind over 200 events. In 2021, she expanded by opening Dream Space Intimate Event Venue, a private event space located in St. David’s.

“Melanie Fiander is a local photographer and owner of Fiander Foto. Well-known for her award-winning and published wedding photography, Melanie has been working in both the fine art and commercial photography fields for the past 20 years. Melanie was voted Bermuda’s Top Wedding Photographer by the UK Publication Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Abroad. Her work has been featured in multiple publications including, New York Weddings, The Vendor Report, Tie the Knot Scotland, Bermudian Weddings, and Wedding Wire. Alongside working as a photographer, Melanie is also a Photography Professor. She is currently writing and teaching courses for The University of California – San Diego Extended Studies and Sessions College. Melanie also offers mentorships and workshops through Fiander Foto.

“Amanda Duncan is the Marketing and Events Manager at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce. With a background in graphic design and years of experience in communications, she plays a key role in connecting the business community in Bermuda through her work, developing marketing strategies, and organizing events to enhance the Chamber’s outreach efforts.

“This year’s Celebrity Judge Nick Thomson is the President at Scooter Mart. He studied Finance and Accounting at Florida State University. After graduating from university in 2015 he started his professional career working as an auditor at KPMG in Hamilton, and in 2016 he began his journey in entrepreneurial ventures.

“This year’s prizes are as follows:

Best Christmas Window 2023

• $1,000 BELCO Gift Certificate
• $1,000 Donation to the Charity of the Winner’s Choice
• A Social Media Feature
• A Dedicated Media Release from the City

People’s Choice

• $500 Masters Gift Certificate
• $500 Donation to the Charity of the Winner’s Choice
• A Social Media Feature
• A Dedicated Media Release from the City

“Businesses must display the window decorating participation notice issued by the City of Hamilton in their window before the opening of voting.

“The winners will be announced on Friday, December 15, 2023, via social media and press release.”

#Christmas #ChristmasDecorations #CorporationOfHamilton

Category: All, Entertainment, News