A new Winter Festival event will let people from across the city participate without leaving their yards.

On Thursday, the Winter Festival announced the introduction of its new event, WinterScape. The contest will pit Prince Albert’s residents against one another in a public vote as to who has the best-decorated yard. Entries will be accepted in three categories, Natural art scape, using natural foliage to create a display, De-Dazzled, where people can transform their existing Christmas display into something themed for the season or the festival, and the Snow-Critters contest.

“Snow-Critters is the one we hope families will really get into,” Publicity director Donna Barr said.

“They can build a snow-dog, snow-bird, snow-superhero, or even a really cool snowman! Just make it a critter, make it interesting and most of all, have fun!”

Barr said she came up with the idea for WinterScape while watching the snow fall one evening. The idea was well-received by the festival board.

“The (Be-Dazzled contest) is for people who like to go all-out at Christmas,” Barr said.

“We’d like them to carry it through the rest of the inter, and tweak their display into a festival-themed, or winter, display.”

Residents can submit one entry for each contest. Entries open on Dec. 23, and photos can be submitted on the Winter Festival website. Entries will be accepted until Jan. 30, and online voting will run from Jan. 31 until Feb. 7. On Feb. 8, the festival will announce the winners.

The winners of the Be-Dazzled and Natural Art Scape contests will each be awarded s six-show festival ticket packages, including two tickets to each of the Rock Show, the Country North Show, Voices of the North, Fiddle Show, Gospel Show and Youth Extravaganza.

Ten prizes will be awarded for the Snow-Critters contest. The top ten vote-getters will each receive a $50 Humpty’s Gift card. All entries will also be entered into a pair of draws for a pair of Raider Hockey weekend family packs.

“(WinterScape) is a way for everybody to go into their front yard and be part of the Winter Festival,” Barr said.

“It’s a great way to show off the city while we’re all getting into the spirit of the festival.”

For contest rules or to enter, visit princealbertwinterfestival.com. For more information, email princealbertfestival@gmail.com