Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest

To be eligible as an Ugly Holiday Sweater Contestant you must wear a Holiday and/or Winter-themed Sweater, Sweatshirt, Sweater Vest or Jacket to the Holiday Celebration on Thursday, December 16! In our event registration, you will be able to indicate your interest in participating in the contest.

Everyone who registers to be part of the Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest will receive a number.  Attendees will be able to vote by dropping their favorite sweater by number into a box for volunteers to collect and count. Prizes will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

  • 1st Place (Snazzy Snowman): $100 Gift Card to Amazon
  • 2nd Place (Rockin' Reindeer): $50 Gift Card to Barnsider Restaurant on Wolf Road
  • 3rd Place (Red-Ryder Ralphie): $25 Gift Card to Starbucks

Prizes donated by our Ugly Holiday Sweater Content Partner - Albany Capital Center!

RULES FOR UGLY HOLIDAY SWEATER CONTEST

Turtlenecks and long or short-sleeved t-shirts will only be accepted underneath your Ugly Sweater attire, but they will not be considered worn by themselves as a contest entry and therefore not eligible for judging.

You may add to or alter your sweater however you like, have fun, and get creative. To be eligible as part of the “sweater” it must be attached. Additional items such as hats, jewelry, pants, or other festive attire will not be considered when voting for the Ugliest Holiday Sweater, but we encourage you to wear them for entertainment purposes.

How will the Ugliest Sweater Winners be determined?
Everyone who registers to be part of the Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest will receive a number.  Attendees will be able to vote by dropping their favorite sweater by number into a box for volunteers to collect and count.

  • 1st Place (Snazzy Snowman): $100 Gift Card to Amazon
  • 2nd Place (Rockin' Reindeer): $50 Gift Card to Barnsider Restaurant on Wolf Road
  • 3rd Place (Red-Ryder Ralphie): $25 Gift Card to Starbucks

What prizes will be awarded
The Winners will receive the coveted Ugliest Sweater Title(s), Bragging Rights, and a prize donated by one of our sponsors.

Where do I get an Ugly Sweater?
Store, friend, family, homemade, thrift shop, garbage can, etc. If you spend more than $20 on the sweater, you’ve likely spent too much! Holiday sweaters were born to be bought from Salvation Army or Good Will and decorated at home!

If it’s comfortable, you aren’t even participating. A true ugly holiday/winter sweater requires a long-sleeved, maybe even a turtleneck underneath or else it’ll feel like you’re getting poked and prodded throughout the party. Anybody sitting there in comfort boasting about their comfort deserves nothing but stern looks.

If it’s homemade, you are legally required to tell everybody, so they know what type of spirit level you’re at. Nothing at the holiday celebration will match your homemade sweater. And it doesn’t matter if it’s knitted by your mom or your grandma, if it’s in your lineage, you are eligible to boast the whole roast about how you holiday the most.

You can be disqualified from the ugly sweater contest for the following:

  • Putting on your ugly holiday sweater after entering the event. You must be already wearing your sweater when arriving at the event.  
  • Removing your sweater before the winners have been announced!
  • Altering your sweater after arriving at the event!
  • Swapping your sweater with another contestant during the event and before the winners have been announced
  • If your sweater does not have a holiday or winter theme!
  • If your sweater is just a t-shirt, turtleneck, or anything other than a sweater, sweatshirt, sweater vest (or vest with a turtleneck), or jacket! A turtleneck and vest combo is completely fair game. You’d never wear that ghastly combo any other day of the year unless you’re a school librarian so we’re gonna say it’s ugly, and it's officially part of the line-up.
  • Please no profane or disrespectful sweaters referencing lude scenes, conduct, language, or other provocative suggestions
  • Your sweater must be visible throughout the entire event!
  • Remember, this is NOT a Zoom meeting. Please wear pants - if you are only wearing the sweater, sweatshirt, sweater vest or jacket, you will be disqualified.

If you are interested in participating in this year’s contest, or just want to join in the fun, please indicate during the online registration process!

If you’re part of the ESSAE Community, you 100% need to be at the Hilton Garden Inn Troy on Thursday, December 16 for our first Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest. If you don’t have a holiday sweater, we encourage you to wear hats, lights, or other accessories to get in the spirit!