Enter by Nov 15 / Online voting Thu 11/26 5 PM – Sat 11/28 5 PM / Awards Sat 11/28 at 7:30 PMEnter by Nov 15 · Voting 11/26–11/28 · Awards 11/28 7:30 PM
Voting details
Holden Beach, North Carolina
A coastal Christmas celebration across the island and along the waterway. Homes glow, docks sparkle, and the whole beach shines for Brunswick Family Assistance.
Make this a new Thanksgiving weekend tradition!
View the waterfront displays Thursday or Friday evening. Boat viewing ends at 4:00 PM Saturday for the flotilla lineup.
Two shores, one glowing night
From ocean-side cottages to docks along the Intracoastal, neighbors are turning Holden Beach into a trail of light. Pick your favorite displays, cast your votes, and help crown this year's brightest.
Competition one
Beach cottages, canal-front homes, and island porches glowing from street to shore. If you can see it from the road, you can vote for it.
Competition two
Docks and waterfront homes from Lockwood Folly Inlet to Shallotte Inlet, on both the island and mainland sides. The flotilla glow zone runs from Sailfish Park to The Wharf. Best viewed Thursday 11/26 or Friday 11/27 evening, before the Saturday flotilla lineup.
On the island and on the water? You can enter both. Choose both competitions and have your yard and your dock judged.
Enter bothMake the island glow
Choose Island Illuminations, Waterway Wonderland, or both. Island homes on the waterway can have their yard and dock judged. Entries for homes and/or docks close November 15, 2026.
Enter by Nov 15Have your display shining November 26–28. Waterway homes must be on the Intracoastal between Lockwood Folly Inlet and Shallotte Inlet to be considered.
Thu 11/26 – Sat 11/28Vote online from 5 PM Thursday, Nov 26 until 5 PM Saturday, Nov 28. Then join us at the Holden Beach Marina for awards at about 7:30 PM.
Awards Sat 11/28Prizes worth glowing about
Category winners receive gift certificates to local businesses and a one-of-a-kind lantern trophy to keep. Gold trophies are awarded in Island Illuminations; white trophies are awarded in Waterway Wonderland.
Your entry sign
We will deliver a sign with your entry number no later than November 25 so your property is ready for visitors and voting. Waterfront properties will receive a reflective number for visibility.
A note for boaters
No viewing by boat after 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 28, while the flotilla lines up. The waterway is best enjoyed Thursday, Nov 26 or Friday, Nov 27 evening, so plan your cruise before Saturday afternoon.
Calling all lights
Registration is open to homes on Holden Beach and along the waterway on both the island and mainland sides. Enter one competition or both.
Entry deadline: November 15, 2026, for homes and/or docks.
Entry is free. A $25 donation to Brunswick Family Assistance is recommended for homes participating in the contest and can be made at any of the giving locations listed below.
Your email and phone number are for event organizers only and never appear on the public ballot.
You're on the ballot
Your display is registered for Light Up the Night.
Join the flotilla
Light up your boat and cruise with the Holden Beach flotilla. Visit hbflotilla.com for more information and the online entry form.
Know your glow zone
Waterway Wonderland covers the full Intracoastal stretch along Holden Beach. Docks and waterfront homes on both the island and mainland sides are eligible between Lockwood Folly Inlet and Shallotte Inlet.
Sailfish Park to The Wharf. This is the prime viewing corridor and boat parade stretch within the larger eligible waterway.
Eligible waterway homes run between Lockwood Folly Inlet and Shallotte Inlet on both shores. The flotilla glow zone runs from Sailfish Park to The Wharf, with Holden Beach Marina just before The Wharf.
Eligible waterway
Every dock and waterfront home on both shores of the Intracoastal between the two inlets can enter Waterway Wonderland.
Flotilla glow zone
This is the prime boat-viewing corridor for the flotilla. It sits inside the larger inlet-to-inlet eligibility area.
Awards night
The marina is on the waterway just before The Wharf. Join us there for awards at approximately 7:30 PM Saturday.
Heads up, boaters: no viewing by boat after 4:00 PM Saturday, November 28, due to the flotilla lineup. Plan your waterfront cruise for Thursday 11/26 or Friday 11/27 evening.
Drag to pan and use + / − to explore the map.
Let your favorite shine
One vote per category. Six chances to crown the coast's brightest displays across the island and waterway.
Thursday, Nov 26 at 5:00 PM through Saturday, Nov 28 at 5:00 PM ET.
Voting status
Online voting opens Thursday, Nov 26 at 5:00 PM ET.
The display that stops you in your tracks. Biggest glow, boldest creativity, unforgettable impact.
Registered displays will appear here. Be the first home on the ballot.
One vote per category per browser. Votes cannot be changed once cast. Winners are announced at the awards celebration.
Plan your night
All times Eastern. Displays are best viewed after dark Thursday 11/26, Friday 11/27, and Saturday 11/28. Waterfront displays are best seen Thursday or Friday evening.
The ballot goes live for Island Illuminations and Waterway Wonderland.
Cruise or stroll the waterway. Best viewing before Saturday's flotilla lineup.
No viewing by boat after 4:00 PM while the flotilla lines up. Online voting closes at 5:00 PM.
Join us at the Holden Beach Marina as we celebrate this year's winners.
Light up a neighbor's night
Your gift stays local through Brunswick Family Assistance. Every donation helps a neighbor with food, housing, and hope right here in Brunswick County.
Give in person at
Recommended $25 donation. No donation is required to enter or vote.
Made brighter by
Light Up the Night is possible because local businesses believe in a brighter, kinder coast.
Jeremy Watkins
Perrenia Wellness Shallotte
Next Avenue Realty
Chad & Lisa Ragland (910) 367-5392
Lexi Fulford (910) 274-1666
nextavenuerealty.com
With gratitude to our returning sponsors for helping make the coast glow.
Good to know
Everything you need to enter, vote, or find your way to the awards.
Still curious? Connect with one of our sponsors.
Yes. Island homes on the waterway can select both competitions, and your yard and dock will both be judged. Select both when you register.
Waterway displays must be on the Intracoastal Waterway between Lockwood Folly Inlet and Shallotte Inlet. Homes on both the island and mainland sides are eligible. The flotilla glow zone between Sailfish Park and The Wharf is the prime viewing corridor within that larger eligible area.
The flotilla glow zone runs from Sailfish Park to The Wharf and is the prime boat-viewing corridor. It sits inside the larger Waterway Wonderland eligibility area, which extends from Lockwood Folly Inlet to Shallotte Inlet.
You can cast one vote in each category: Best in Glow, Best Coastal Christmas, and Best Classic Christmas, for both Island Illuminations and Waterway Wonderland. That is six votes total per browser. Votes cannot be changed once cast.
Online voting opens Thursday, November 26 at 5:00 PM ET and closes Saturday, November 28 at 5:00 PM ET.
Boat viewing is not permitted after 4:00 PM on Saturday, November 28, due to the flotilla lineup. For the best waterfront experience, view the displays by boat on Thursday, Nov 26 or Friday, Nov 27 evening.
A $25 donation to Brunswick Family Assistance is recommended and can be made through Provision Company, Hot Buffalo, The Wharf, or The Holden Beach Marina. Donations are not required to enter or vote.
Awards will be presented at the Holden Beach Marina at approximately 7:30 PM on Saturday, November 28.
Entries for homes and/or docks close November 15, 2026. Register early to make sure your display is included on the map and ballot.
Winners receive gift certificates to local businesses and a collectible lantern trophy. Gold trophies are awarded for Island Illuminations; white trophies are awarded for Waterway Wonderland.
Every registered home and dock receives an entry sign with its number, delivered no later than November 25. Waterfront properties receive a reflective number so they are easy to spot during evening voting.
Yes. Entering your home is free. A $25 donation to Brunswick Family Assistance is recommended, but never required.
