Rat-a-tat-tat… please give a big drumroll to all the participants and winners of the citywide holiday home-decorating contest. This year’s contest was full of holiday spirit as the entire community shone with glimmering lights, inflatable Santas and delightful ornaments.
Selected homes provided coffee, donuts and hot chocolate (sponsored by local businesses) to visitors who decided to stop by to admire these beautiful works of art.
Judges were selected by participating businesses to judge the 16 participants Dec. 19, and residences were notified of the results on Dec. 20, with viewings Dec. 22. Although it was close, 10 addresses were bestowed the honor of being called the best-decorated houses of Fountain Valley!
The honor roll included seven addresses: 9201 Wintergreen Cir., 16186 Mt. Craig Cir., 16549 Walnut St., 11044 Coral Aloe Ave., 9750 La Zapatilla Cir., 9680 La Esperanza Ave. and 9233 Wintergreen Cir.
The third-place prize of $500, which was donated by the HB Auto Dealer Association, was awarded to Padmanabhan Srinivasan of 16321 Rosewood St. The second-place prize of $750, donated by Fam Vans, was awarded to Conrad Villafuerte of 8750 Hudson River Cir. Finally, the grand prize of $1,000, which was donated by by Do Builder & Design, was awarded to Larry Giczewsk of 8803 Swallow Ave. In addition, the first-place winner also received a Christmas Carol performance by the Fountain Valley High School Troubadours.
When asked about the contest, Fountain Valley Mayor Ted Bui said, “It’s such a great feeling; when you see that, you can see the joy for every neighbor, too, coming together, talking about what they’re going to do to design their house. … It’s really a way to pull the community together, get to know your neighbors, get to know your friends.
“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the dedication of our volunteers, residents, and sponsors. Your contributions enrich our community and create a welcoming environment.
“The success of our inaugural Best-Decorated Homes Contest is a true reflection of our community spirit and support. Thank you for your commitment to making a positive difference. Wishing you all a joyful 2025, and we look forward to another memorable Best-Decorated Homes Contest this winter!”
Congratulations to all the houses that participated or won awards; your efforts to make Fountain Valley more festive were clearly seen throughout the community.