‘Tis the Season
LAUREL — A scene from “Christmas Vacation,” sums it up best.
“Well, I’ll be outside for the season.”
That’s one of the famous quotes from Clark Griswold in the movie Christmas Vacation. And for all the lights that were lit around Laurel on Thursday, Dec. 3 for the Home and Business Decorating Contest… there was a lot of time spent outside decorating.
Cue the drumroll… And the Griswold Award for the Home Decorating contest goes to… Koby Detlefsen, age 13, of Laurel.
The aspiring young man strung 10,500 lights plus 400 feet of rope light on his home in the Norris addition in Laurel.
It took Koby about a week to get all of the decorating accomplished.
Koby received the Griswold Trophy, and Griswold ornament and $50 Chamber Bucks for all his time and efforts.
Sometimes teenagers have to be told what to do, but not Koby.
“He did this all himself — even the lights on the playhouse roof. I found him out on that roof one day,” his mother, Kayla said. “He went up there without me knowing he was doing all of this. Talk about my heart skipping a beat.”
His father, Drew, helped him hang the snowflake lights on the house.
Otherwise, this light display was a one-man-show.
The Griswold Trophy originates from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” one of Detlefsen’s favorite movies. Throughout the year quotes from the flick can be heard amidst family conversations.
“I love Christmas lights and enjoy being outside. Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite movies. I really wanted to win this competition just so I could get the Clark Griswold trophy.” he grinned.
When asked what he plans to do with the prize money, he laughed and responded, “I plan to buy something ‘real nice.’”
He is already planning next year’s display.
The other winner from the night was Melissa Graham of Missa Sue’s Curly Q’s for the Business Decorating Contest. She received a 2021 Chamber
She received a 2021 Chamber membership and also the Business Griswold Trophy.
The contest was part of a revamped community celebration because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Laurel Chamber of Commerce’s Night of Lights events were changed from a onenight event to events that can be enjoyed through the Holiday season.
Many of the Laurel businesses participated in the decorating contest and the word scramble. There were 21 homes that registered for the Home Decorating contest. Laurel was pretty well lit. Other events that were
Other events that were started this year included the Christmas Word Scramble and Christmas Elf Hunt.
The Word Scramble was won by Abbie Brummels. Her name was drawn from the forms that had the correct phrase “ ‘Tis the season to be jolly”. Abbie won $20 in Laurel Chamber Bucks.
The Christmas Elf was found on Friday afternoon in the LCC Central office in the elementary giving tree by Elle and Alma White, and they will also receive Chamber Bucks.
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