Deck Your Halls 2021 Winners Announced

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

With the tinsel and lights packed away, the Palisadian-Post seals the holiday season by announcing the annual Deck Your Halls home decorating contest winners.

Liana and Brian Martin’s home in the Highlands was voted Best Decked Out Hall. This was the first time the family entered the contest.

“We decorate our home every year for the holidays but this year was special because it was decorated from start to finish by our son AJ. His younger sister Ally also helped,” Liana told the Post.

A third generation Palisadian and fifth grader at St. Matthew’s Parish School, AJ shared that he was thrilled his family won the competition. He assembled everything himself, chose the multi-colored lights and design, and arranged the lights on the inflatables. He also played holiday music for the neighbors. AJ’s creativity was displayed through multiple Santas, a giant polar bear and reindeer.

“He knows how beautiful the other houses were and is grateful that the community voted for him. Christmas is very important to AJ because for him it represents a month-long of giving to others,” Liana said. “His goal in the decorations was to bring as much Christmas joy to others as possible and to make everyone happy.”

The Martin family said their decorations brought cheer to passersby, young and old, leaving AJ proud as he looks forward to decorating next year. He said he wishes all the happiness the community felt during the holidays carries into the new year.

“Everyday can be Christmas in our hearts,”  AJ concluded.

Joanna and Charles Curtis won this year’s prize for DIY/Originality—the couple previously earned the same award in 2016, and Best Decked Out Hall in 2018.

“We love putting up our display and are so happy the community appreciates the display,” Charles said to the Post. “I love decorating the house and it’s great that my kids are willing to help.”

The Curtis family said they find Christmas to be most important as, “it’s about family and spreading joy.” Especially with the challenges of the pandemic, they didn’t want to break their longstanding tradition of decorating their home.

Joanna and Curtis were joined this year by their children, Violet, 9 and Joey, 12, who participated and said they enjoyed decorating the house.

Leaving 2021 on a high note and moving into 2022, the long-time Palisadians are looking forward to the upcoming centennial celebration of their “great town.”

“We hope our friends and neighbors are healthy and prosperous in 2022,” Charles said.

For winning the Deck Your Halls contest, the Martin and Curtis families received passes to The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey—an immersive, drive-thru holiday experience, tickets to Jurassic Quest at Anaheim Convention Center, candles from Emme Essentials, gift baskets from SPLATZ and Sushi Roku, and hundreds of dollars in gift cards to local businesses including McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, Serena & Lily, Bonjour Fete and Wool+Clay.