We like to think that Bluffton’s many shops create the best Christmas decorated downtown of any small town in Ohio.

In addition to the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce’s residential lighting contest, a separate contest takes place for 41 downtown businesses.

The downtown contest operates differently from the residential contest. Competition downtown involves any business that has Christmas garland purchased two years ago through the chamber garland project.

Each participating business receives one ballot and may vote one time for one first, one second and one third place window. A first place vote is worth 5 points, second is 3 points and third is 1 point. The contest stresses that businesses try to decorate using this year’s Blaze theme “Deck the Halls.”

Ballots are due at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29, at Citizens National Bank. John George will announce the three window winners on the stage during the Blaze of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 30.

This is the third year that downtown shop owners select their top three windows using this voting system. The winning business will receive a traveling trophy, which it may retain for one year. Second and third place winners receive a plaque to display in their window.