Come enjoy a new Rockmart tradition for the holiday season as the community continues to adjust to life with COVID-19 restrictions, one of them being that large gatherings are not permitted right now.

Which means that the annual Christmas Parade in Rockmart isn’t happening this year. Instead, city officials have announced the new holiday event, a Christmas Display contest.

Cash prizes will be available to nonprofits and churches, along with commercial entities as well for the first time ever, that want to participate and show off their holiday spirit by designing a Christmas display around the theme of “Angels Among Us,” which is also the exhibit underway at the Rockmart Cultural Arts Center happening now.

Entries are being accepted now through December 1 at 7 p.m., and displays all must be in place by Dec. 5. Judging will take place from Dec. 5 through Dec. 12, and winners will be announced on Dec. 14.

All entries are free of charge. Anyone interested must sign up online with the city at this link and provide a valid e-mail address to participate.

Each entry will be judged based on the theme “Angels Among Us,” with the idea in mind to feature a heavenly host or people in the community who are acting as angels among us all on a daily basis through their deeds or actions. The judges will be considering the artistic design of the display, the overall appeal, unique design, illumination and the adherence to the rules. For each design, 10 points will be awarded for each category, but 5 points will be deducted for not following the theme or a violation of the rules.

Note that only decorations on the street side of the property will be judged. Participants should ensure that all lights, animations, and decorations are in place and activated for the judging periods on all nights.

Participation is open to all residents and businesses within the boundaries of the City of Rockmart. Employees of the City of Rockmart are not eligible to participate.

Winners in the nonprofit (schools, clubs and nonprofit organizations) and churches categories have the chance to take home a first place $500 prize, a $300 second prize and a $150 third prize.

Businesses, which for the first time have a chance to be included in the cash prize contests, have a chance to win a $300 first prize, a $200 second prize and a $100 third place prize.