The window display at Parrot Coffee in Sunnyside last year. The Sunnyside Shines BID is sponsoring a photo contest for the neighborhood shop with the best holiday decorations. View Full Caption Sunnyside Shines BID

SUNNYSIDE — 'Tis the season to deck the halls — and the windows.

A business improvement group in Queens is on the lookout for local shops with the best holiday window displays, offering a $500 prize to the shop or restaurant with the most festive storefront.

The Sunnyside Shines BID is sponsoring contest, which will take place entirely on social media, with local businesses and residents encouraged to nominate their favorite neighborhood holiday displays by uploading photos of them on the BID's Facebook page, or to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #SunnysideWindowContest.

"We are hoping to encourage local stores to create a festive holiday shopping environment," BID director Rachel Thieme said in a statement. "The contest is a fun way to engage community members and businesses to get into the 'shop local' holiday spirit."

To be eligible, the businesses have to be within the bounds of the BID's district, or those fronting Queens Blvd from 38th to 50th Streets and fronting Greenpoint Avenue from Queens Boulevard to mid-block between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

Entries will be accepted until Dec. 16, and the public will vote for the winner. Current entries include the display at the Sunnyside Thrift Shop at 45-14 Greenpoint Ave. and Bing's Hallmark store at 45-15 Greenpoint Ave. Voting will end Dec. 18.