Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the holidays will look a little different this year.

 The annual Hopedale Downtown Winter Stroll would have been in its 10th year, but the Friends of Historic Hopedale have had to switch things up.

 “We have come up with a few other ways to celebrate the season safely,” said Tracey Philips, Friends of Historic Hopedale.

 To that end, the organization announced a new tradition.

 “We are hosting the first annual Hopedale Town Wide Holiday Lights Contest Dec. 4 – Dec. 13,” she said.

 The rules are as follows:

 The contest is open to residents and businesses located in Hopedale.

 Submit your address (and note residential or business entry) through email at: [email protected]

Have your display ready for viewing Dec. 4 through Dec. 13, from 5 to 9pm.

 Philips said that judging will take place throughout the week with 1st, 2nd & 3rd prizes in both residential and business categories to be awarded. There will also be a people's choice award in both categories.

Light displays should be family-friendly.
While light display entries must be located in Hopedale, sponsors can be from any nearby town.

 “Any local business who donates $25 or more in product or gift certificate (for our residential entry prize baskets) will be listed as a sponsor for this event. If you're a business who wants to be a sponsor but doesn't have product or gift certificates, donate a gift certificate from a local business or restaurant in your name. Win win!” she said.

 She said to watch its Facebook page to see who the judges will be.

 “We will have special guests helping us judge the entries to be announced soon on our Facebook event page. Our friends at the Hopedale Community House, who are normally our partners in the Winter Stroll festivities, will also still be lighting their Christmas tree on the 5th,” said Philips.

 Some of the folks most hit by the pandemic restrictions are the local businesses, Philips said.

 “A big part of the Winter Stroll has been showcasing local, small business vendors and their handcrafted, vintage and artisan gifts. … We have created an online marketplace where shoppers can find some of their favorite vendors from the Hopedale Downtown Winter Stroll as well as the Hopedale Fairy Walk,” she said.

 To support those small businesses, there is a group called Shop Small with FOHH on Facebook. Each vendor will have their own album in the Facebook group where shoppers can purchase from, ask questions and find out more about the vendors. The group will be open to shoppers for the month of December.

 “We still want to support our small business friends in this time when most of them are missing out on their in-person shows and fairs,” she said