Tree Registration is limited to 15 Trees for 2023
Pay for Your Sponsored Tree
We are accepting sponsors for trees for 2023! Our Trees for 2023 are provided by Moody Christmas Tree Farm!
You may pay the sponsorship fee for your tree using the PayPal portal below. Or, you may mail a check to TREE, OBA, 110 1st AVE EAST, ONEONTA, AL. Please pay for your tree by December 1, 2022, if at all possible.
You may pay the sponsorship fee for your tree using the PayPal portal below. Or, you may mail a check to TREE, OBA, 110 1st AVE EAST, ONEONTA, AL. Please pay for your tree by December 1, 2022, if at all possible.
Sponsored by the Oneonta Business Association, the Festival of Lights Tree Contest involves the display of live Christmas trees in Downtown Oneonta in the gazebo area. Our goal is 15 beautifully decorated trees and lots of new Christmas decor. In the effort to promote community, each tree will be sponsored by a local corporation, group, or family, and can be decorated by its sponsor or another organization designated by the sponsor.
Sponsoring a tree is a great way to market your business, boost employee morale, and just be creative. Tree sponsorships are available for $100 which offsets the costs of the tree, durable stand, and maintenance. If you don’t have time to decorate a tree, please be a tree sponsor and we’ll find a worthy non-profit organization to beautifully decorate it for you. Both your name and the decorating organization are displayed on an attractive sign that is placed beside the tree.
All entrants must complete the online registration or the print form, both available on our website.If your organization would like to be considered as a non-profit decorator, please submit the form to get on the waiting list for a sponsored tree. These trees are subject to availability, but we will do our best to accommodate all requests.
Trees will be lit on December 7th at the Community Christmas Tree Ceremony, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Lighting Countdown will commence at 6 p.m. sharp) and be illuminated 24 hours a day through January 1, 2024.
Decorations and lights MAY NOT be removed before January 2, 2024. Early removal violates our rules and ruins the display for family members, tourists, and guests who cannot come to town before Christmas Day. DO NOT TAKE DOWN YOUR TREE EARLY! Take down dates are January 2-5, 2024. Any decorations not removed within that time will become the property of the Oneonta Business Association to keep at their discretion.
Trees will be judged by an out-of-town committee, plus the People can vote online for their category of awards:
- People’s Choice – Best of Show, Determined by Popular Vote on Facebook
- Judges' Choice – Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Winners Determined by Out-of-County Judges
Whether your tree is a work of art or something to promote your company, this is your opportunity to help the OBA create a vibrant and exciting Downtown Oneonta for this Christmas season.
The Oneonta Business Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization and all funds raised cover the costs to execute this project. Any proceeds will be invested in 2024 events and projects.
Decorating Guidelines & Requirements (Must Read)
- Decorate your tree anytime Sunday November 27th thru December 6th, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Your assigned tree will have a sponsor sign displayed beside it. Look for your name. Please do not move signs around. If you do not see your sign please call Tara at 205-473-6410 and we'll get it fixed.
- The sponsor/decorator provides all lights and decorations.
- LED lights only. No exceptions.
- The live Christmas trees will be approximately 7-8 ft in height.
- Sponsor signage will be provided for you.
- We recommend 10-15 strings of LED lights per tree. The more the better. Be sure to check your lights to make sure they are working before putting them on the tree.
- Please connect your tree lights to a #12-gauge heavy duty rated outdoor extension cord, dark in color (black or green) no more than 25 feet long. Make sure your cord is tagged with your name and phone number. This is a requirement! After decorating, please unplug your tree. We will see that it’s connected to the power supply by the evening of the Community Tree Lighting Celebration on Thursday December 8th 2022, at 6:00 p.m.
- You can Include a tree skirt of some kind and secure it to the ground, leaving your power cord plug-in visible. Also make sure that the tree skirt leaves room in the center for the watering of your tree. We have long watering wands to use in watering the trees this year. Your tree skirt doesn’t have to be fancy; it adds to the ambiance of the displayed trees and covers cords but is not required.
- Please use decorations that can withstand the wind and rain. Laminate paper decorations.
- We suggest that you spray any fabric/material with Scotch Guard to prevent mildew and keep them looking good.
- We try to supply a couple of ladders that stays on site during set-up but you can bring a step stool or ladder so you can reach the top of your tree to decorate it.
- Small plastic zip ties, pipe cleaners, string, or other ties should be used to secure your decorations. Do not use ornament hooks.
- If you plan to spray paint or snow on your tree, please bring a plastic drop cloth or other covering for the grass. Be careful that the wind doesn’t carry it to neighboring trees.
- While you are decorating, please watch small children as they can trip and fall on cords, wires, and rebar stakes, plus there are busy streets on either side and we want to insure everyone’s safety. Adults should exercise care, too!
- Once your tree is decorated and you return to see the display, please keep children from climbing over the white fence. Also ask any adults you see beyond the fence to please exit. Once the trees are in place and secured, there are all sorts of trip hazards. We don't want anyone to get hurt!
- The OBA will check all trees periodically; however, it is recommended that you assign someone to check your tree, as well. Please remember that trees will be out in the elements for roughly 30 days and wind, rain, and other weather may cause ornaments to fall.
- The display is monitored regularly by OBA volunteers, the Oneonta Police Department, and by security cameras. However, we cannot be responsible for any stolen or missing ornaments or decorations. Hopefully, that will not be a problem this year.
- Again, please remember that tree decorations and lights should stay decorated and lit through New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024.
- Remember: Decorations and lights may be removed between January 2 and January 5, 2024. NOT BEFORE!
- Any decorations and lights that remain on trees as of January 6, 2024, become the property of the OBA.