By Sandy Barnes

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To make things merry and bright, the City of Ouray Beautification Committee is sponsoring the annual holiday lighting competition for businesses and residences in Ouray.
“The reason that we’re doing this is that it is an incentive for the community to light up Ouray,” said Tamara Gulde, who is coordinating the event for the beautification committee. “It’s just basically trying to get unity in Ouray,” she said. “It’s a Christmas town, and it’s beautiful.”
All businesses and residences within the city limits are eligible to participate in the competition, for which there are prizes. Alpine Bank is offering three cash awards for each of the commercial and residential categories. First place winners will receive $100 awards; second place will receive $75 and third place will receive $25.
All participants must have holiday lights turned on from 5 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 6, 7 and 8 when the anonymous judging will take place. Past winners will be eligible for the competition.
For the past few years, volunteers have been working with the city to add holiday lighting to Ouray, said Gulde. After years of effort on the part of the Ouray Woman’s Club whose members hung garlands on light poles, the beautification committee was able to purchase commercial lights and new garland, she said. “The town is really into it now.”
City employees wrap the garland and lights around the 19 poles on Main Street after Gulde checks the strands to make sure all the bulbs are in working order. The city also has decorated the trees and welcome sign at the entrance to Ouray on Hwy. 550.
“The Hot Springs Pool does its own decorating,” Gulde added. “We’re all just trying to work together.”
Even with the support of the city staff, many volunteers still participate in brightening up Ouray for the holidays, said Gulde. “Volunteers have done this for many years,” she said.
Along with the holiday lights, Main Street merchants are also decorating their windows for the Winter Wonderland competition, which the Ouray Chamber and Resort Association is sponsoring. The downtown decorations will be in place through the ice festival in January, which typically draws many visitors to the city.