By Logan Andrew | FreeWire — Your News, Your Voice
As the 2025 holiday season draws to a close, the streets of Crawford County have never looked brighter. This year, FreeWire’s Christmas Lights Contest brought out the best in our community—from high-tech tunnels to “Major Awards” in living room windows. I love this contest so much, and I’m incredibly proud to see it grow so much from year one to year two. For year three we are already talking about new categories including for small homes and displays. Participants will be able to select the category they wish to be in when entering the Christmas Lights Contest 2026.
A Note from the Editor: Overcoming the Hurdles Before we dive into the incredible displays, I want to offer a sincere apology for the mistake at the beginning of the contest. It was my fault, but in my defense, Influenza A absolutely kicked my butt. There were a good 36 hours where I was no good to anyone, and I want to thank everyone for being so cool about the hiccup. I also have to give a massive thank you to April Rodgers Payne for stepping in and running things in my absence. Without her, this contest wouldn’t have crossed the finish line.
The Heart Behind the Lights: 2025 Highlight
The Main Street Master: Jordan Shell
Living on Main Street means your work is always in the spotlight. Jordan Shell, who took over the outdoor decorating duties while his wife handled the interior, treats his display like a work in progress. “I layer my setup,” Jordan explained. “I set them up in stages so they look complete after each stage, but I can continue to add to the ‘base’ lights and help it grow”. It’s a craft he learned as a kid decorating his mom’s house, and today he does it for the kids in town to enjoy.
The Oakwood Avenue Gauntlet: Kevin Allgire
Kevin Allgire, his wife Halie, and their kids turned their home into a high-wattage landmark. The standout feature this year was a brand-new sidewalk tunnel. “Midway through, it almost became a ‘next Christmas’ project,” Kevin joked. Despite the headache of the build, seeing the neighborhood kids run through the glow made it worth it. To any other neighborhoods looking to compete? Kevin has a message for you: “Oakwood Ave is the best for Christmas lights. Every other neighborhood—bring it on!”.
The “Hidden Gems” of Amy and Chad
For Amy and Chad, decorating has been a staple since 2011. While Chad acts as the mastermind for the roof, their 12-year-old son Owen is a key player. This year, they battled fierce Ohio winds that actually blew their ladder and drills off the roof. But the struggle led to their favorite tradition: the “Grand Reveal” on Thanksgiving night. “It’s so nice to always see the smile on my husband’s face when the lights come on,” Amy shared.
The Solo Mission: Doug Foght
Doug Foght handles his entire display alone, and while he faces the annual struggle of tangled strands and popped fuses, it’s all worth it. Fans of the film A Christmas Story surely recognized Doug’s favorite piece: his “Major Award” leg lamp glowing in the front window. Originally started for his grandkids, the display is now his annual gift to the community.
Surprise Category: Best Theme
If you noticed a new category this year, it’s because we had an extra prize to give out! Our staff got together and voted on a “Best Theme” winner. As you can probably guess by the results, we have a lot of Magic School Bus fans on the FreeWire staff!
A Massive Thank You to Our Sponsors This contest wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our local business leaders. A huge thank you to: Shawn Ridgeway (Suburban Lanes / Breezzy’s Pizza) Wes Dennison (Twisted Intentions Motorsports) Jami Lee (Jami Barlow & Sage + Steel) Steven Nash (Bandy’s Tire) Randy and Laura Scheffler (Randy’s Tire) Teresa Bullion (DB Bookkeeping) To the contestants, the voters, and everyone who decorated for the holidays: your houses were amazing. You make Crawford County a better place to live. Happy New Year, everyone!
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