San Luis Obispo stores brighten downtown with holiday decorating contest

The SLO Downtown Association announced the winners of its annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest on Thursday. Bluebird Salon, HumanKind Fair Trade and Assistance League Thrift Store took the top awards.

Each year, a handful of downtown San Luis Obispo businesses vie for the most eye-catching displays by decorating their storefront windows, according to the SLO Downtown Association. The Downtown Association Design Committee hosts the contest and judges the windows, and the contest is sponsored in part by The Tribune.

The contest includes a People’s Choice award with voting held online, and the contest awards first, second and third place and Best in Theme. This year, the decorating contest’s theme was “There’s no Place like SLO.”

This year’s winners are Bluebird Salon, first place, Jules D., second place, and EcoBambino, third place. HumanKind Fair Trade won Best in Theme and the Assistance League Thrift Store won the People’s Choice award.

All participants receive a certificate of recognition for their efforts, and winners receive award certificates and gift baskets.

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 4:21 PM with the headline "San Luis Obispo stores brighten downtown with holiday decorating contest."