Advertisement The two have been judging Onalaska’s annual holiday decoration contest for eight years and had their judging nights all planned out. They were going to take Kulcinski’s Humvee on a tour of the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 8-9. Trouble is, meteorologists had been talking about a big blizzard for days.
So Kulcinski and Lager went out on Monday night instead, spending five hours driving around looking at holiday light displays, looking for the ones that will make them — and others — want to stop and stare.
“It takes us a while to find the wow factor,” Lager said.
Despite an economy that might still be considered in the doldrums, Lager said her impression was people didn’t skimp on their decorating this year.
“I would say it stayed about the same,” Lager said.
One thing Lager looks forward to is seeing illuminated inflated decorations she hasn’t seen before, and on that score, she was disappointed. She only saw one new one this year.
After Kulcinski and Lager’s epic journey Monday night and some additional driving around Thursday, they chose won residential winner from each aldermanic district and one business.
And the winners are:
The two only had four submitted nominations this year, although that’s not unusual, said Lager. “We’re always just doing this blind.
The residential winners received “in-town vacations” courtesy of local merchants, and Blue Moon’s owners, Barry and Lynda Nimtz, received a prize package of gift certificates.
Sponsors of the contest included Coulee Golf Bowl, Design Photography, Fazoli’s, Seven Bridges Restaurant, Holiday Inn Express, Dairy Queen, Kwik Trip, Lindy’s Subs , Blue Moon and Festival Foods.
The contest has had a prohibition against repeat winners in the past, this year two of the winners had been picked before. The Lubinsky home on Hope Court was a winner in 2004, and the Blue Moon won a few years ago.
