Oceanside CA— In the spirit of the holiday season, Oceanside held the fourth annual ‘Tis the Season Window Decorating Contest as part of the program and event lineup of ‘Tis the Season to Shop Local, a fun, distinctly local holiday celebration inviting our community to explore Oceanside retail establishments and to shop local this holiday season. A total of 14 businesses throughout Oceanside participated by decorating their shop windows and storefronts to the theme of ‘Tis the Season. A panel of local judges viewed the holiday displays and have selected the following winners:
First place: Don’s Country Kitchen Don’s Country Kitchen in South Oceanside is the ‘Tis the Season Window Decorating Contest winner. “Don’s Country Kitchen brought country to the holidays,” said Judge CJ DiMento, Oceanside Public Library division manager and staff liaison to the Oceanside Arts Commission. “Loved how the business incorporated a cow and pig as Santa’s reindeer.

”Second place: Saint Tropez Bistro and Beyond For the second year in a row, Saint Tropez Bistro and Beyond in Downtown Oceanside took second. “The effort put into the building was great,” said Judge Claudia Troisi, downtown resident and member of MainStreet Oceanside’s Downtown Economic Development Committee.”It was festive and thoughtful and went above and beyond a window decoration and included the whole building.
“Third place: Otterlei Coastal New to Downtown Oceanside, Otterlei Coastal took third place this year. Oceanside City Councilmember Esther Sanchez, who was thrilled to be a judge, loved the dancing Santa in the shop’s front window. “It was holiday-spirited and fun for all, especially pedestrians on Mission Avenue who are shopping and/or dining at our exciting newly revitalized downtown district.”
Time is running out to shop local in Oceanside this holiday season and get rewarded. It’s not too late to fill up a Shop Local Holiday Passport. This year, as well as prizes from participating businesses and makers, shoppers who enter a passport could win one of three grand prizes provided by the San Diego County Community Enhancement Program: a Whitlock Surf Factory custom surfboard valued at $1,000, a Theragun G3 percussive therapy device from Playtri Oceanside valued at $400 or a Reap & Sow spa gift basket valued at $500. It only takes 10 stamps to enter and a purchase is not required.
’Tis the Season to Shop Local concludes with the South Oceanside Winter Walkabout this Wednesday, Dec. 11, from 5-8 p.m. Come out for a festive stroll and enjoy visits with Santa, passport stamping at participating locations, holiday music and special in-store discounts.
To be entered into the final prize drawings, passports must be submitted by noon on Dec. 13 to MainStreet Oceanside or one of the locations listed on the back.About ’Tis the Season to Shop Local’Tis the Season to Shop Local is an annual holiday campaign from Small Business Saturday through the South O Walkabout to support local retail businesses and artisans by encouraging residents and visitors to shop local during the holiday season.
The campaign is a partnership between MainStreet Oceanside, Visit Oceanside, City of Oceanside Economic Development, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and South Oceanside Business District. For more information, go to ShopLocalOceanside.com.