PERU — The annual Christmas in July tradition at Worthley Pond was a huge success this year, Don Sillars, president of the Worthley Pond Association, said.

What made this year’s event so successful, said Carlo Puiia, one of the Christmas in July judges and the town manager of Rumford, was the involvement of nearly everyone in the Worthley Pond community. Puiia shared the judging honors and responsibilities with his wife, Paula.

“There were signs of Christmas everywhere on homes surrounding the lake,” Puiia said, “from big electrical displays to just a single strand of colored Christmas lights.”

Homes, docks, floats and boats were adorned with holiday items, Sillars said.

There was a lighted Christmas boat parade, with eight boats spaced 100 yards apart, passing by the judges’ reviewing stand, in front of the Old Worthley Pond Snowshoe Club.

“I was impressed with the number of spectator boats on the lake watching the event,” Puiia said.

The winners of the best decorated homes and boats were difficult this year, Sillars said.

The Worthley Pond Christmas in July winners for Best Cottage Decoration were:

1. Cindy and Jill Hamann, Parady Lane

2. Steve Gallant, Greenwood Road

3. Patrick and Roxanne Gorham, East Shore Road

Honorable mention: Frank and Eleanor Laycock, East Shore Road

The Worthley Pond Christmas in July winners for Best Boat Decorations were:

1. David and Karen Arsenault, East Shore Road

2. Joe Tardiff and family, Greenwood Road

3. Bubba Reno and family, East Shore Road

Winners received gift certificates from Brian’s Bistro, The Bus and the Worthley Pond Store.

Special thanks were extended from the Worthley Pond Association to: Carlo and Paula Puiia for being judges; Kathy Barrett for her help with the judge’s scoring; and John and Donna Dixon for the use of their pontoon boat to be used as the judges’ barge.

“This Christmas in July was a complete community participation and a great time for everyone,” Sillars said.