Tinsel Trail Nominated for USA TODAY Holiday Lights Award

Tuscaloosa's One Place display is among the candidates in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards public vote.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Civic

Tinsel Trail Nominated for USA TODAY Holiday Lights Award

Live Poll

Would you attend a local holiday lights display this season?

Tuscaloosa's One Place Tinsel Trail has been nominated for Best Public Holiday Lights Display in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. Public voting runs through Monday, November 30, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Why it matters

The display earned the number four spot in 2025 through public voting, and the nomination gives Tuscaloosa residents a direct way to influence its national ranking. Winning or placing among the top 10 would bring added visibility to the city's holiday tradition.

The Tinsel Trail ranked fourth nationally in 2025 public voting and features more than 200 live Christmas trees at Government Plaza. The top 10 winners are determined by public votes through the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards, and the source material does not specify the 2026 field of competitors.

The players

USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards

The USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards is an annual national public-voting contest that ranks top local attractions and experiences across the United States.

Tuscaloosa's One Place

Tuscaloosa's One Place is a Family Resource Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, that presents the Tinsel Trail and serves families across West Alabama.

The details

Local businesses, organizations, and individuals sponsor and decorate the live trees that fill Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa. The display is presented by Tuscaloosa's One Place, a Family Resource Center serving West Alabama.

2025: The Tinsel Trail earned the number four spot in public voting.
Monday, November 30, 2026, 11:59 a.m. EST: Public voting closes.
Thursday, December 3, 2026, noon EST: Top 10 winners announced.

Seasonal Patterns

The Tinsel Trail's nomination continues its 2025 run in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards, where it placed fourth nationally in public voting. Its repeat nomination follows the contest's annual cycle of recognizing public holiday displays across the country.

Residents can vote in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards before the Monday, November 30, 2026, deadline at 11:59 a.m. EST. The Tinsel Trail is displayed at Government Plaza in downtown Tuscaloosa and is open for visitors to see in person.

The takeaway

Voting in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards is one simple way Tuscaloosa residents can support a local holiday tradition before the November 30 deadline. Visiting Government Plaza to see the decorated trees is another way to take part in the display.

What happens next

Public voting closes Monday, November 30, 2026, at 11:59 a.m. EST, and the top 10 winners will be announced at noon EST on Thursday, December 3, 2026.