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LIGHT UP LAKE JACKSON
Participate in the new Lake Jackson holiday tradition!
Light Up Lake Jackson was designed during COVID as a way to have a safe and fun holiday celebration for residents and visitors. It became an annual event after the magnificent response from residents who were delighted with the month-long festivities.
The 3rd Annual Light Up Lake Jackson occurs on our FB page and our website. This includes rules, procedures, downloads and entry forms. We also announce the winners. Winners will receive their prizes and awards in person at City Hall.
It begins as the last event of the Festival of Lights and runs until New Year's Eve.
The events and contests are free to all.
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT HOUSE DECORATING | DECORATE WITH LIGHTS CONTEST & MAP OF LIGHTS ENTRIES
We have not released the participation instructions on this event yet. When we do, it will be on our FB page and website. Keep looking and following our FB page to learn when to put your house on the map.
When you do, you are in the contest and Santa's Elves will drive by your house when you aren't looking!
Schedule & Activities
Watch Elf at the Festival of Lights | After the Parade November. 19
When the Festival of Lights Parade is over, Light Up Lake Jackson Movie Night begins at the Civic Center!
Downtown Selfie Booths | November 16 - January 3 
Make your own holiday photos at our selfie booths scattered around City Hall and our fabulous mid-century downtown..
LIGHT UP LAKE JACKSON SELFIE STATIONS
1. Parking Way Gazebo - next to Franklin State Farm
2. This Way Light Up Ornament - next to Wurst Haus
3. Civic Center Snowman
4. Civic Center Ornament
5. City Hall Mailbox & Elf
Santa's Letter Mailbox Drop-Off @ City Hall | November 16-December 19
Santa's elves are ready to deliver all the children's letters from the special Santa Mailbox at City Hall. If you mail your letters by Dec. 19 the elves will take them to Santa who will reply to the address provided on the letters! After mailing the letters, enjoy the candy-cane decorated trees and take a selfie at the selfie booth.
Color the Lights: Kids Coloring Competition - November 18-December 5
The popular Children’s Coloring Contest is now underway! Prizes are:
1st Place $50
2nd Place $25
3rd Place $10
Do you know a Lake Jackson kiddo that likes to color? If so, follow the directions below to enter them for a chance to win the Light Up Lake Jackson Color the Lights contest! Make sure to add contact information (phone number or email) on the back of the coloring sheet in case they win! Please email mborth@lakejacksontx.gov if you are unable to drop-off your coloring sheet due to disability or circumstance.
Instructions
1. From the link above,select a sheet designed for the age range of the child who will be coloring.
Print the sheet from the link above or come to City Hall to pick the sheet up.
Drop the colored sheet off at City Hall on or before December 5. You can drop it off 24/7 at our drive-
through window.
2. We will upload the sheets to our FB page. Between December 6 and 12, get everyone to like the
coloring sheet you want to win! The sheets with the most LIKES wins gets the prizes!
3. We will announce the winners on December 13!
4. HASHTAG #ColorTheLightsLakeJackson
Nominate the Light: Most-Giving Citizens Award | December 2-7
We recognize the LJ residents who light up our holidays! The winner receives a monetary award and bit thank you from the City that appreciates the way they light up our community!
First-Third places: $100 each place.
OUR 2022 MOST-GIVING CITIZENS ARE: FRANCES TYLER, RON MARTIN, JUDI JAMES & JULIE VELEZ
Light Up Lake Jackson recognizes today those who light up our community all year long. Frances Tyler, Ron Martin, Judi James, and Julie Velez are our 2022 Most-Giving Citizens.
Frances Tyler has been volunteering in the city for several decades. At over 80 years young, she remains an active volunteer at Habitat Re-store, serves on the board and helps with home builds. She also volunteers with Brazosport ISD where she reads to children and observes new teachers in the district. She also volunteers with the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra and Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Ron Martin always works behind the scenes. He was one of the first in our community to begin a free pantry outside his store. He led the efforts to generate funds for the Sherriff Department Drone Program and brought a nationally sanctioned BBQ competition to Lake Jackson.
For 40 years, Judi James has given an immense amount of time, talent, creativity, and dedication to many Center Stages performances at the Center for the Arts and Sciences. Judi has left her mark in the nuanced storytelling and playful creativity she cultivates to bring each story to life. She’s the planetarium director at The Center. She impacts the programming decisions, teaches astronomy, and narrates shows. She enthusiastically shares her love of science with hundreds of people each year.
Julie Velez provides over 400 holiday gifts each year to at-risk children in our community. Her nominator said all she wants in return is a hug. Throughout the year, she keeps the Light Up Lake Jackson spirit going through her efforts to meet the needs of anyone in the community who needs help with no fanfare or publicity.
Draw the Lights: All-Ages Drawing Contest | December1-14
As a way to honor and celebrate the vibrant creative community in Lake Jackson, Draw the Lights recognizes drawings of all types. We welcome any form of creative expression. We'll even return the drawing if you write the instructions on the back of the entry. Winners receive monetary awards.
Drive the Lights: Virtual Drivable Map of Lights in LJ | December 9 - January 3
Let the season shine and twinkle throughout Lake Jackson with the Virtual Drivable Map of Lights! The homes registered for our annual best home decoration contest will be listed on our self-guided map of our holiday homes. Our map will be released when we announce the winner so holiday revelers throughout the region can add Lake Jackson to their seasonal traditions. We also provide a printable map.
Decorate with Lights: Best Home Decorations Judging | December 9-12
Residents throughout the city enter their addresses into a drivable map that allows passers-by to celebrate the season! One of our most popular events, Drive the Lights encourages drivers to grab a thermal of hot chocolate, load the car or SUV or pickup and make Lake Jackson your holiday destination! Santa's elves are in town for the event and even though you won't see them, they drive the map too and pick the best decorated home. They announce their decision on FB!
REGISTRATION: Click here to register! Registration began on Nov. 29 and will continue until Dec. 7
PRIZES: Do you have the most festive house in Lake Jackson? Decorate the exterior of your home for the holidays and enter for a chance to win a gift card to the LJ business of your choice!
1st place wins $200
2nd place wins $150
3rd place wins $100
Judging will take place December 10 through the 15.
The winners will be contacted and posted on December 16. All submitted addresses will be added to a map of drivable lights in Lake Jackson for the public to enjoy as well.
The virtual map will be available beginning on December 10.
Drive the Lights: Virtual Drivable Map of Lights in LJ
Search for the Lights: Scavenger Hunt | December 16
The entire city is up for the Scavenger Hunt. The special event encourages families from everywhere to hunt for clues about Lake Jackson and then bring their solved puzzle to the City Hall lobby where they collect prizes! The hunt is announced on FB exclusively but everyone gets their prizes from Santa's elves at City Hall! The 2022 Search for the Lights Scavenger hunt clues will be released 10 a.m. Dec. 16.
No proof of residency required to choose from 100 prizes. One prize per household.
Santa's Lights: Santa Tours Throughout LJ on a Firetruck | December 17 
There's only one place on earth that Santa comes to the neighborhood early and that place is Lake Jackson! Santa rides through the city spreading his special magic on Lake Jackson and assuring all the good little boys and girls that he is indeed heading to their house this year. Santa even comes with a real-life GPS and you can watch where he goes on the website. If he doesn't go down your street, just go to the nearest one to see him!
The Light Up Lake Jackson Art Gallery
The winners and participants of the Color the Lights and Draw the Lights will be in an exhibit at the Lake Jackson Museum from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30. Enjoy the art of our creative community and celebrate the work of our youngest artists as you enjoy your Holidays in Lake Jackson!