Murrieta's Finest Holiday Homes Crowned

Sneakier than the Grinch, the City of Murrieta surprised most Holiday Home Decorating Contest winners by posting signs in their front yards.

Vicki Lazoff, whose Avenida Arconte home earned Most Festive, was one of them.

"I was so excited!" Lazoff said. "I didn't even know until I pulled up in my driveway and I saw the sign."

Winners of Most Creative, the Hammatt family, did not notice the sign posted in front of their Karen Place home until they were doing minor repairs on their display due to wind damage.

Judging took place Saturday, and winners were announced early Monday on the City's website. Judges' criteria was based on several categories: Best Use of Lights, Most Creative, Best Block, Most Festive, Best Holiday Spirit and Judges' Prize.

"The judges try not to award the same people ever year," said Laura Frasso, a judge and special events coordinator for the Community Services Department. "For example, . We like to give them honorable mentions or try to make up an award for them."

This year the Glover's were voted Santa's Favorite. The home is known to many in the community for its extravagant, synchronized display.

Frasso had her own favorite: Most Creative. In honor of winner Susie Hammatt's Native American grandmother who passed away, the Hammatt's devoted their theme to the Cherokee culture. It was complete with symbols representing the Cherokee words for hope, love and guiding spirits, and a Cachila doll.

The Hammatt's are not new to holiday decorating, this marking their fifth year entering the competion.

"It's in our blood," Susie Hammatt said. "It's tradition. My uncle, grandmother and parents all decorate and I hope to pass it on to my daughters."

They create a new theme every year.

"One year we had a huge Santa's mailbox and got about 100 letters to Santa," Doug Hammatt said. "We even get people asking us to turn on the (snow) machines so they can take their family portraits."

The Hammatt's are also included in this year's winners for the Best Block category. They insist all the credit goes to block ringleader, Richard Tims, who has experience of his own.

"I've been decorating for years," Tims said. "We used to do it in Fountain Valley and when we moved here, we carried on the tradition."

Tims motivated several of the neighbors, sweetening the deal by getting discounts on snow displays. He spent three months building and hand painting a life-size nativity scene.

Many of this year's winners agreed about why they go all out.

"We love it. We love coming home to it and hope others enjoy it just as much."

Honorable mentions were awarded to the the Preston family, the Hall family, the Curtis family, the Huegel family and the Cabrera family. For addresses and maps to the winning homes, visit the City's website.