Kamloops has a chance to win the Communities In Bloom (CIB) grand-slam this winter.

Earning five blossoms from CIB judges and becoming the best bloomin’ summer community in Canada earlier this year means only one spot remains open on the River City’s trophy mantle.

In order to fill that spot, a five-star rating issued by a new set of CIB judges for Kamloops’ performance in the upcoming WinterLights Celebration (WLC) will have to be earned for efforts in five categories: Visual presentation, festive season celebrations, winter pleasures, goodwill programs and tourism/promotion.

Spearheading Kamloops’ bid for CIB supremacy will be Glenn Grant, chairman of the WildLights Celebration Committee.

“I think Kamloops is a great place to live and a fantastic place for recreation, so that’s why it’s easy for me to get on board,” Grant said.

“It’s great to promote something you truly believe in.”

Light displays on Victoria Street and at the corner of Notre Dame Drive and Columbia Street, as well as at the Spirit Square, City Hall and St. Andrews on the Square, are set to induce twinkling in judges eyes.

Snow-sculpting, public skating, ice-fishing tournaments and hockey games are among the types of family-oriented events which have traditionally impressed judges in the winter-pleasures category.

B.C. Wildlife Park events, the Santa Claus Parade and various Christmas concerts are some of the festival celebrations set to take place.

Food Bank, Christmas Amalgamated and Salvation Army programs which help the less fortunate are viewed as integral parts of a city’s makeup and must exist if a five-star rating is to be secured.

The ability to showcase the community to judges and ensure Kamloopsians and tourists alike are participating in the planned events will be judged in the tourism/promotion category.

Grant estimates the cost of Kamloops’ WLC bid at between $12,000 and $15,000.

Individual and corporate sponsors will provide most of the funding.

A small chunk of leftover cash provided by the City for the successful summer bid will also be used to cover the winter bid’s cost.

The judges arrive on Dec. 10 and set upon the city on Dec. 11.

Kamloops will be competing with Prince George, Barrie, Ont., Kingston, Ont., Brantford, Ont., and Halifax, N.S., in the over 50,000 population category.