Wow! What a Holiday Decorating Contest! Seventeen entries from across Ohio County were received in the 4th annual Light Up Ohio County Residential Holiday Decorating Contest and Light Trail!  It was a tough task for the six judges who narrowed the field down to their Top 3 Best Decorated Homes in Rising Sun/Ohio County with two Honorable Mentions. Two Neighborhood Award Winners were also selected by the judges. 

The winners are: 

Brandon & Cassie Cappel-First ($250) 
Sandy Kinzer-Second ($175) 
Aaron & Angelica Hopkins-Third ($100) 

Two Honorable Mentions ($50) went to:
Robin Jackson 
LeeAnn Wallick

To download a complete list of participants (along with some unjudged entries) click on this link: 

Light Up Ohio County Decorating Contest List 2020

The Board of Directors and staff of Ohio County Tourism wishes to thank ALL our participants for “Putting a Little Christmas” back into our hearts and Rising Sun/County! 

This event was sponsored by Ohio County Tourism. 

Rising Star Casino Resort is offering Virtual Santa Visits for “kids” of all ages. 

Santa’s Hours

Fridays & Saturdays
Nov. & Dec.
2:00pm – 8:00pm
Last Sat. in Dec. is the 19th.

Sundays
Noon-6:00pm
Last Sun. in Dec. is the 20th.

Wednesday, Dec. 23
1:00pm – 7:00pm

Thursday, Dec. 24
1:00pm – 5:00pm

For more information, contact Rising Star Casino at (800) 472-6311 or log on to their website at risingstarcasino.com. Learn more about The Christmas Casino by logging on to thechristmascasino.com. 

Rising Star Casino Resort’s ferry will begin their winter hours starting Friday, December 4. 

Ms. Lucky Lady’s new hours will be Closed Mon., Tues.; Wed & Thurs. from 11am to 8pm; Fri. & Sat., 11am-10pm; and Sun. from 11am to 8pm. 

For more information, contact Rising Star Casino at (800) 472-6311 or log on to their website at risingstarcasino.com. 

The Visitors Center will be collecting Santa Letters in the special red mailbox located in the Visitors Center parking lot at 217 N. High Street through Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 at 5 pm. The box will be installed on or around Wed. November 18. 

Presented by Ohio County Tourism, form letters can downloaded through this link at SantaLetter2020A or by requesting a letter via e-mail at kendal@enjoyrisingsun.com.  Letters written on plain paper are also acceptable. 

Postage is not required for any correspondence mailed in the Visitors Center parking lot. Letters can also be mailed through the United States Postal Service (postage required) and addressed to Santa, c/o Ohio County Tourism, PO Box 112, Rising Sun, IN 47040.

All letters must have a return address and be received by Thursday, Dec. 17 at 5 pm to receive a response by Santa or one of his helpers. 

Due to COVID-19, the Visitors Center is currently CLOSED to the public until further notice to keep staff and board members safe. 

The application period for the 2020 Light Up Ohio County, IN, Residential Holiday Decorating Contest is now closed.

The judging period will be Dec. 2-3 from 6-9 pm. Dec. 4 will be used if needed. Winners will be announced on or before Dec. 6, 2020. 

First Place is $250; Second Place $175 and $100 for Third Place. $50 Honorable Mentions will be awarded at the judges’ discretion. The Griswold and Holiday Cheer Neighborhood Awards will received bragging rights. 

Presented by Ohio County Tourism. For more info, e-mail kendal@enjoyrisingsun.com. 

Due to COVID-19, the Visitors Center is currently CLOSED to the public until further notice to keep staff and board members safe.