Nominations are now open for the 2017 Miss Merry Christmas and Jack Frost contest in Aurora.
The contest is open to Aurora residents between the ages of 4 and 7 years old.
“We are looking forward to continuing and enhancing this popular tradition in our community for more than 50 years,” said Mayor Richard Irvin in a press release. “These young Aurorans are our future. They will proudly represent the city during the holiday season and at other community events.”
Parents can enter their child by submitting a digital or hard copy photo with the following information: name, age, birthday, parent/guardian name, address, email and phone number. Photos should be high resolution with only the nominee in the photo, according to the release.
Digital copies of photos can be emailed to MyAurora@aurora-il.org with the required information included in the body of the email.
Hard copies of photos can be delivered to the City of Aurora Special Events Office, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite A, during regular business hours on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the release. Required information should be written on the back of the photo.
The deadline to submit nominations is 5 p.m. Oct. 20.
Six boys and six girls will be chosen as semi-finalists. Community members can vote for the winners by submitting the ballots that will be printed in The Beacon-News on Oct. 29, 30 and 31.
All ballots must be received in the City of Aurora Special Events Office at the address listed above by 5 p.m. Nov. 3. Only official original newspaper ballots will be accepted, according to the release.
While all 12 semi-finalists will be part of the 2017 Winter Lights Court, the top three vote earners in each category will be the 2017 finalists and entered into a random drawing that will crown the 2017 Miss Merry Christmas and Jack Frost.
The drawing and crowning will be held during the Aurora City Council meeting Nov. 14 at Aurora City Hall, 44 E. Downer Place.
Miss Merry Christmas and Jack Frost will lead the City of Aurora’s Winter Lights Parade and assist in lighting Aurora’s official Christmas tree during the Winter Lights celebration, which begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 in downtown Aurora.
For more information, call the City of Aurora’s Special Events Office at 630-256-3370.
