ORANGE — While some may have spent Black Friday in a food coma or shopping for the hottest bargains, 16 businesses and organizations made sure downtown Orange was again decked out with holiday spirit.

The Orange Merchants Group’s sixth annual lamppost-decorating contest officially started the day after Thanksgiving, and people have until Dec. 29 to vote for their favorite.

“It’s great. There’s a lot of variety,” said Julia Davis, a member of the merchant group who oversaw the effort. “We have carolers, a Grinch — there’s a Grinch making an appearance through a live Christmas tree. And we even have Malibu Barbie. She’s got a floatie and she’s got a Christmas hat. It’s really quite fun.”

Some lampposts are bedazzled with tinsel and ornaments while others are adorned with objects like toys and stuffed animals.

People can vote for their favorite lampposts online at bit.ly/4aqmWB5. The top vote-getter will be announced at the town’s Starry Starry Night celebration on New Year’s Eve and receive a trophy.

Davis explained that businesses and organizations pay $30 to decorate a lamppost and some opt to do more than one. There are 20 decorated lampposts, with 18 in downtown Orange and two near the Orange boathouse. Davis said the accrued entry fees go toward purchasing holiday decorations for spots like Riverfront and Memorial parks. She said some first-time participants were the nonprofit organization Orange Gives Back as well as The Florist at Gelinas and Paul Whitney, who purchased Pizza Factory about a year ago.

“Honestly, we just did it to help support the town of Orange and beautify the town,” Whitney said about the contest, noting that he joined Orange Merchants Group after buying the restaurant and member Tom Smith told him about it. “I thought it was a good idea.”

Whitney said he paid the entry fee and outsourced the decorating to his wife’s grandmother, Elaine Greene, who also handled the interior decorating at the restaurant.

Whitney mentioned he is not allowed to disclose which lamppost he sponsored because that is against the contest’s rules. But he said he would love to be able to display the trophy in his eatery.

Davis, who manages Quabbin Harvest Food Co-op at 12 North Main St., said participants were allowed for the first time this year to use multi-colored lights as opposed to just white ones.

“The feedback has been really great,” she said.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.