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Karlstad Chamber of Commerce
January 24, 2026
Karlstad Light Contest: Winners Announced

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Holiday Décor & Lights Contest. From storefronts to front yards, Karlstad truly showed up with creativity, effort, and holiday spirit. This contest was judged using a mix of community votes, visual impact, creativity, effort, and overall festive presentation.

Business Category

The community has voted, and the winners in the business category are:

  1. North Star News (1st Place) — Your display stood out with strong community support and festive storefront charm!
  2. Marcus Steien – State Farm Insurance Agent (2nd Place) — A warm, inviting holiday display that earned great engagement.
  3. Underdahl Hardware – Karlstad (3rd Place)

We want to give a special shoutout to all businesses who tied closely and participated — your involvement helped make this event a success! Karlstad Ambulance Squad: Tri-County EMS, Prime Security Bank, Karlstad Insurance AgencySand Ridge Home Supply + Design and Wiktel

The Chamber will be delivering the business trophy directly to the winning storefront.

Residential Category

The Judges’ picks in the residential category are:

  1. Wikstrom Residence (1st Place) — A true holiday showstopper! From wildlife displays and porch décor to Santa, trees, and even the shed — this property delivered an immersive holiday experience with decorations covering the entire yard. Excellent effort, creativity, and festive variety earned this home First Place.
  2. Nordin Residence (2nd Place) — Clean, uniform lighting paired with beautifully accented trees created a polished and visually striking display. The simplicity and balance made this home stand out — a well-deserved Second Place.
  3. Thompson Residence (3rd Place) — This home showcased impressive effort with extensive trim lighting across windows, garage doors, porches, and side elevations. Clean lines, uniform colors, and the sheer square footage covered earned them Third Place.

Standout Displays

We’d also like to recognize a few homes for exceptional creativity and effort:

  • Hansons – Festive lights, fun inflatables, and bonus points for the ever-changing porch goose outfits
  • Mugaas – The entire face of the home transformed with uniform, coordinated lights and a complete holiday scene
  • Meader Residence – A mix of traditional, modern, and winter décor that created charming Christmas village vibes

Prize Pick-Up Reminder
Residential winners may claim their Karlstad Bucks at the City Office during regular office hours.

A Heartfelt Thank You
To all residents who decorated — whether you entered the contest or simply lit up your home — thank you for making Karlstad bright, festive, and welcoming this holiday season. Your effort created a wonderful community tradition and a joy-filled Tour of Lights for everyone to enjoy.

This event truly captured the spirit of community and the holidays in Karlstad — and we can’t wait to do it again next year!