Lighting contest, Bentleyville begin

This Saturday the lights at Bentleyville turn on for driving tours ($10 per car) but the grand Duluth lighting display isn’t the only place showing its Christmas spirit in the Northland.

Voting for the Christmas Lighting Challenge also begins this weekend. It’s not too late to enter the contest, as registration continues through Dec. 10. Online voting by the community for both homes and businesses begins Saturday, Nov. 21 and ends Dec. 20. Sign up your home or business at christmaslightingchallenge.com, or view the online map of all participants.

Bentleyville is open Nov. 21 through Dec. 27. The event is drive-through this year, with a fee of $10 per car. Masks are required if people have to leave their cars to use the restroom. Because weekends are so busy, organizers are encouraging local residents to try to visit Monday through Thursday for a more enjoyable time. From Cloquet, take Exit 255B off I-35, then take the Garfield Avenue exit toward Port Terminal, stay in the left lane and continue onto Garfield Avenue. All traffic must enter from Garfield Avenue onto West Railroad Street to the Bentleyville entrance.