The Rainier Beach Merchants Association (RBMA) has announced the winners of its annual Light Up the Beach Holiday Challenge. This year sixteen locations participated with a total of 25 businesses, community groups, and artists contributing to hospitality and decorations with food, music, crafts, cookie decorating, dance, workouts, and breathtaking luminaria. Attendance for this year's event was double that of the previous year.

The RBMA was grateful to all who came out. Location winners are listed below. The competition was TOUGH — with many winners only taking their category by a vote or two.

Voters for this year's event will be notified via email or phone should they win a gift certificate in this year's drawing. Decorations will stay up at most locations through the New Year.

Best Overall: Jude's Old Town

Best Activity: — Rainier Beach Safeway/ Rainier Beach Ready Emergency Hub/ Derek Johnson Photography Additional Santa photos can berfound HERE.

Best Hospitality: Redwing Caf

Best Decorations: Seattle Farm Co-op/ Seattle Tilth

Best Winter Wonderland: Rainier Beach Merchants Association/ Penniless Projects

Honorable Mentions:

Light it Up Award: Southeast Seattle Senior Center

Best Artistic Process: Kaffa Coffee & Wine Bar/ Rainier Beach High School IB Art

Best Workout: Rainier Health & Fitness

This event was sponsored by the Seattle Office of Economic Development "Only in Seattle" program, Rainier Beach Safeway, with all businesses donating a gift certificate for drawings of folks who turn in their voting cards. A neighborhood pre-event clean-up effort was sponsored by Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

A hearty THANK YOU to all of the participants and neighbors who cleaned up, decorated, entertained, and put their hearts into the beach every day of the year. Happiest of Holidays from the Rainier Beach Merchants Association!

Featured image courtesy of Rainier Beach Merchants Association