Merritt Island Holiday Lights Contest
Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026
Light Up the Island!
We're inviting Central Merritt Island homeowners to show off their holiday spirit by entering their decorated homes for a chance to win a $250 grand prize. Explore participating displays, plan your holiday lights drive, and vote for your favorite. Let's make Merritt Island shine this holiday season!
Overview
Turn your holiday lights into island legend
Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026 is a Central Merritt Island exterior holiday lights decorating contest. Homeowners enter their decorated homes for a chance to win a $250 grand prize, the participating homes guide turns approved displays into a driveable family route, and public voting decides the winner.
Entries open Monday, November 16, 2026, and run through Thursday, December 10. Public voting opens Friday, December 11, and closes Saturday, December 26, with the winner announced Monday, December 28. There is no entry fee, and the eligible decorated home receiving the most valid public votes wins the $250 grand prize, sponsored by Altenhof Agency.
Season at a glance
- Grand prize
- $250 gift card
- Prize sponsor
- Altenhof Agency
- Entries open
- Nov 16, 12:00 a.m. EST
- Entries close
- Dec 10, 11:59 p.m. EST
- Voting opens
- Dec 11, 12:00 p.m. EST
- Voting closes
- Dec 26, 11:59 p.m. EST
- Winner announced
- Dec 28
All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST). The winner is decided entirely by valid public votes.
Official rules
How the glow works
The official rules for Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026. Please read them in full before entering. All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- 1
Contest name and purpose
Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026 is an exterior holiday lights decorating contest for single-family homes in Central Merritt Island, Florida. The contest is free to enter, and public voting determines the grand-prize winner.
- 2
Eligibility
Open to adults age 18 or older who own, or have the owner's permission to enter, a decorated single-family home in one of these Central Merritt Island neighborhoods: Carlton Groves, Catalina Isles, Cianci Estates, Diana Shores, Fairfax, Hampton Homes, Island Acres, Merritt Lakes, Palmetto, Raintree by the Lake, Skylark Estates, Sykes View Estates, Villa de Palmas, and Waterway Manor. Condominiums, townhomes, and mobile or manufactured homes are not eligible. If you're not sure whether your home qualifies, email briannarealtor@gmail.com before entering. One entry per residential address. The contest organizer, sponsor personnel directly involved with the contest, and members of their households are not eligible to win.
- 3
Entry dates and deadlines
Entries open Monday, November 16, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. EST and close Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. All times are Eastern Standard Time (EST).
- 4
How to enter
Complete the entry form on this page with your full name, email address, full residential display address, and a description of your display, and confirm the required consents. Provide at least one current photograph of your exterior holiday display; photo upload is not yet available on this site, so email your photo to briannarealtor@gmail.com with your address in the subject line. There is no entry fee and no purchase or service requirement.
- 5
Display requirements
Properties must feature exterior holiday decorations that are visible from a public road or other permitted public viewing area. Displays must respect local codes, safety, and the courtesy of the neighborhood, and must not block driveways or interfere with traffic.
- 6
Public address and photo consent
By entering, you authorize the publication of your display address and approved photos in the participating homes gallery, the holiday lights map, and contest-related promotions. The entry form includes a separate checkbox expressly requesting this permission, and only approved display information is published.
- 7
Public voting process
Public voting opens Friday, December 11, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. EST and closes Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Voting is open to everyone, including residents and visitors outside Merritt Island, and is free.
- 8
One vote per person
Each person may cast one verified vote during the contest voting period. Using multiple email addresses or automated methods to cast additional votes is prohibited.
- 9
Fraudulent voting prevention
Votes are verified by email address. Votes submitted through multiple addresses, automated methods, or other fraudulent means may be disqualified, and the organizer applies these provisions reasonably and consistently.
- 10
Tie-breaking procedure
The eligible decorated home receiving the most valid public votes wins the $250 grand prize, sponsored by Altenhof Agency. If there is a tie, a 24-hour runoff will take place from December 27 at 12:00 p.m. until December 28 at 12:00 p.m., with the winner announced afterward. If the runoff remains tied, a documented random drawing conducted by an independent individual will select the winner.
- 11
Grand prize and sponsor
There is one grand-prize winner, who receives a $250 gift card. The retailer will be confirmed before entries open. The 2026 grand prize is sponsored by Altenhof Agency, affiliated with Goosehead Insurance.
- 12
Winner notification
The winner will be contacted using the details supplied at registration and should respond within seven calendar days. If the winner does not respond within that time, the prize may be awarded to the next eligible home with the most valid votes.
- 13
Privacy and marketing consent
Participant names, email addresses, and phone numbers remain private and are used only for entry administration, voting verification, contest communication, and prize distribution. Contest participation is separate from marketing: an optional, unchecked subscription checkbox is available for those who would like occasional Merritt Island Living updates.
- 14
No purchase necessary
No purchase or payment is required to enter or to vote, and no real estate or insurance services are required to participate.
- 15
Conduct and safety
Please do not trespass on private property, block driveways, or obstruct traffic while viewing displays. Enjoy the lights from public roads and permitted public viewing areas.
- 16
Administrative provisions
Ineligible entries, manipulated votes, and administrative errors are handled reasonably and consistently, including disqualification of ineligible entries and correction or voiding of affected votes. The organizer may cancel, suspend, or modify the contest if fraud, technical failure, or other events compromise its integrity. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, or Meta.
- 17
Organizer and contact information
Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026 is organized by Merritt Island Living with support from Brianna Lalumiere, Broker Associate, Nautical Lifestyle Group, eXp Realty. Questions about the contest? Contact briannarealtor@gmail.com or call (727) 641-3957.
Homeowner entry
Enter your home
Got lights worth a drive-by? This is where the glow begins. Complete the entry form, email us a current photo of your display, and look for your home in the participating homes guide once your entry is approved.
Entries are reviewed and approved by the organizer before anything is published. Your name, email, and phone stay private, and your address is only published with your explicit consent. Photo upload is not yet available on this site, so email at least one current photo of your exterior display to briannarealtor@gmail.com with your address in the subject line.
Entries open Monday, November 16, 2026
at 12:00 a.m. EST. The entry form will appear here when registration opens. Entries close Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Entries are closed for 2026
The entry window closed Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Voting runs through Saturday, December 26, and the winner is announced Monday, December 28.
Let It Glow entry form
Tell us about your display. After submitting, email at least one current photo of your exterior display to briannarealtor@gmail.com with your address in the subject line to complete your entry.
Participating homes guide
Plan your lights route
Approved entries appear here as they are verified, beginning November 16. Each listing shows the entry number, address, neighborhood, a photo of the display, and suggested viewing hours, so your family can build the perfect holiday lights drive.
The island is getting ready to glow!
Participating homes will appear here as entries are approved beginning November 16. Entries are reviewed by the organizer before anything is published, and only approved displays with homeowner consent are added to the guide.
Share this guide with neighbors planning their own lights drive. Entries are added only after review and approval, never automatically.
Vote
Vote for the island's glow
Public voting runs Friday, December 11, through Saturday, December 26, 2026. The eligible decorated home receiving the most valid public votes wins the $250 grand prize, sponsored by Altenhof Agency. Voting is free and open to everyone, one verified vote per person.
Voting results
No winner announced yet
Voting opens Dec 11, 12:00 p.m. EST
Winner announced Dec 28
Voting opens Friday, December 11, 2026
at 12:00 p.m. EST. The ballot will appear here when voting opens, with one vote per person. Voting closes Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Voting has closed
The voting window closed Saturday, December 26, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The winner is announced Monday, December 28.
No approved entries yet
The ballot populates with approved participating homes as entries are verified. Check back soon to cast your vote.
Sponsors
Proudly supported by local partners
Let It Glow: Merritt Island 2026 is proudly supported by the Altenhof Agency, affiliated with Goosehead Insurance, as the sponsor of the $250 grand prize.
The eligible decorated home receiving the most valid public votes wins the $250 grand prize, sponsored by Altenhof Agency.
2026 Grand Prize Sponsor
Altenhof Agency, affiliated with Goosehead Insurance