Santa Clara Selects 2026 Winners for Halloween Home Contest

The city of Santa Clara announced on Friday the eight winners of its Halloween home decorating contest. Eighteen residents submitted their homes for judging, vying for top marks from the Santa Clara Cultural Commission. The competition serves to celebrate the fall season. For some participants, decorating their homes becomes an annual way to build community. “Growing up, my community was always involved,” said Danielle De La Torre, the District 2 winner of the competition. “This is bringing that back — knowing your neighbors.” De La Torre, who grew up in El Paso, Texas, described her childhood Halloweens as moments to gather with loved ones. She described making costumes with relatives, checking out decorations with friends and exchanging candy bars with her brother. The De La Torres open their Halloween festivities in Santa Clara to their neighbors. On Friday, they hosted neighborhood kids to carve pumpkins that will join the front lawn decorations. The concept behind