Back in 1989, when Clark W. Griswold blanketed his two-story house in 250 strands of Christmas lights – 25,000 bulbs – we thought that was a lot. (Google “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” kids.)

Today, a real-life couple in Lagrangeville, New York holds the world record for largest residential light display; their arrangement uses more than 600,000 lights, and they’re choreographed to 250 songs.

But rest assured, Wellman residents, you don’t need to decorate to excess or set any records with your residential light displays to enter the city’s 2nd annual Christmas Decorating Contest.

“If you have one string of lights up, you’re automatically entered,” City Administrator Kelly Litwiller says.  “Just as long as we’re able to see it by the 9th.”

Technically, there is no requirement that you use lights, either; simply decorate the exterior of your home for the holidays to suit your taste, and the City of Wellman will send a representative around town to take stock of the displays and determine a winner.  Last year, Mayor Ryan Miller was that guy; “We may just put him in charge of it every year,” Litwiller says.

On Dec. 10 at 4:45 p.m., during Wellman’s 2nd annual Light the Night holiday event downtown, the winners of the decorating contests will be announced.  The best decorated home will win $50.

Last year’s winner was Scott Clark, a retired Navy electronics and radar tech, who started decorating his home at 606 Golf View Drive in 2020.  His synchronized display is a local destination that has its own Facebook page with information about the musical program for each week, titled Clark’s Wonderland of Lights.

For the first time, there will be a business category for the Christmas decorating contest as well.  The best decorated business will win a traveling trophy that they can display and brag about until handing it off to a new winner the following year.

“We’re encouraging both businesses and homeowners to decorate and get into the season, and make it fun and a little competition,” Litwiller says.

“I’d like to be able to have it where eventually, with the Light the Night, we can get this going really big,” she adds, revealing her hopes for the town.  “We could do tours, like taking truck rides around town a couple of evenings during the holiday season, and let people drive around to look at all the Christmas lights.”

Does Wellman have the potential to be one of the Top 10 Christmas Towns in Iowa?  Only if you participate.  So, start untangling those light strands. . . or downloading the app for those LEDs.