The Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority is encouraging downtown merchants to show their holiday spirit and light up downtown like never before in preparation for the annual lighted parade.
The annual window decorating contest is back, but with many changes based on input from merchants and visitors.
The contest is expanding to include interiors of stores in the judging process, in an effort to accommodate businesses that don’t have windows to decorate.
In addition, the 2007 theme of ‘candy or holiday treats,? especially gingerbread men, has added another spin-off category: ‘best decorated gingerbread.?
The DDA will supply a four-foot gingerbread person (ready for decorating use) at a small fee for those merchants that do not wish to create their own.
The DDA said they are seeking a waiver from the village council of any fees associated with the placement of the gingerbread people as advertising for the downtown businesses.
Similar to last year, the judging will be done by three to four individuals brought in from outside the community.
The three individual categories (best window, best interior and best gingerbread person) will help to determine the best overall winner, who will take home the trophy.
Participating storefronts should be ready by Nov. 30, and the overall winner will receive free advertising space donated by The Lake Orion Review.
For more information, contact the DDA at (248)693-9742.

Customers can win, too
If you spend $10 or more in participating downtown stores between Nov. 23 and Dec. 19, you’ll be eligible to win a gift basket valued at over $500.
The Ultimate Gift Basket is back, crammed with incredible merchandise and gift certificates from your favorite Lake Orion stores, as a way of saying thank you for shopping downtown.
All you have to do is ask for an entry form during check-out and drop off completed entries in the special mailbox at the DDA office, located at 51 N. Broadway (at the corner of Shadbolt).
The winning entry will be drawn at the Dec. 20 Business Neighbor’s Meeting and the winner will be notified by phone on Dec. 21.