Lights of the Ozarks Nominated for 10Best Award
USA Today's 10Best list has named Fayetteville's downtown holiday light display a finalist for Best Public Holiday Lights Display, with public voting open through Nov. 30.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Civic Engagement
USA Today 10Best has nominated Lights of the Ozarks, Fayetteville's annual holiday light display on the downtown square, for Best Public Holiday Lights Display. Nominees were selected by the publication's editors, and the top 10 will be chosen by public vote.
Why it matters
The nomination puts the city's downtown holiday tradition in front of a national readership and gives residents a direct way to influence the outcome. Voting is open to anyone, which makes participation accessible to local supporters of the display.
The competition narrows roughly 20 nominated displays to a top 10 through daily public voting with a limit of one vote per category per day. The final placement of Lights of the Ozarks relative to the other finalists remains unknown until winners are announced.
The players
USA Today 10Best
USA Today's travel and recommendation franchise, which runs reader-voted rankings of attractions, experiences and destinations across the country.
Lights of the Ozarks
The annual holiday light display on Fayetteville's downtown square, which has run for 33 seasons and is known for its extensive LED installation.
The details
Lights of the Ozarks is the city's annual holiday light display on the downtown square, featuring more than 500,000 LED lights across 47 miles of light strands and a 20-foot Christmas tree. The free display runs from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. each night and returns for its 33rd season on Friday, Nov. 20.
Timeline
Nov. 20: Lights of the Ozarks 33rd season opens with a Light Night celebration.
Nov. 30: Public voting for USA Today 10Best closes.
Dec. 3, 11 a.m.: Top 10 winners are announced in the 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
Jan. 1: The display runs nightly through this date.
Civic Engagement Context
Reader-driven competitions like the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards let the public directly shape which local attractions gain national attention. Fayetteville's nomination shows how community participation can carry a civic tradition onto a wider stage.
Residents can vote once per category per day at 10best.usatoday.com through Nov. 30 to help move the display into the top 10. The free display itself runs nightly from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the downtown square, so attending the 33rd season opening on Nov. 20 is an easy way to see it in person.
The takeaway
Daily public votes can determine which local attractions reach a national top 10, so a single vote per category per day adds up across the voting window. Residents who want to support the display can participate directly before voting closes on Nov. 30.
What happens next
Public voting on the USA Today 10Best site closes Nov. 30, and the top 10 winners will be announced at 11 a.m. on Dec. 3.
Further reading
Explore more local participation stories in Civic Engagement coverage for Fayetteville.
More information
Cast a daily vote on the USA Today 10Best voting page for Best Public Holiday Lights Display.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fayetteville Flyer.
