But while the competitions always attract the curious, they also pull the pranksters.
This year, someone has taken the Ardmore St Christmas tree star, worth $1000, and replaced it with a graffiti-covered traffic cone and a stuffed Santa doll taken from outside Aspiring Guides.
In previous years, Wanaka's Santa dolls have also been targeted by thieves.
Festivities organiser Jen Anderson, employed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council to co-ordinate the competitions, reported the incident to the police yesterday.
Parents and children were already touring the town trying to find 20 stuffed Santa dolls, and many others were keen to view the lighting exhibitions, for which judging began last night and continues until Friday.
The Light Up Wanaka competition has attracted at least 20 entries, which is a significant increase from last year.
Seven are in Albert Town, four at Lake Hawea and the remainder in Wanaka.
Mrs Anderson is also organising travelling Christmas carols on December 23.
A group of carolers will perform from the back of a truck around Wanaka, Albert Town and Lake Hawea.
