If you’re hanging Christmas lights this year, you could be preparing yourself or your neighborhood to win a year’s worth of bragging rights.

The city is sponsoring its first Holiday Neighborhood Decorating Contest. Awards will be presented in both individual and neighborhood categories.

The city’s 2011 theme is “Light Up the Night with Holiday Spirit,” and entrants are encouraged to use this as their theme.

The individual division will name a People’s Choice award following online voting. Entrants are asked to submit an 8-by-10 photo of their home for review by the judging committee. The top 20 individual entries will be placed online for citywide voting from Dec. 15-18.

Neighborhood entries will be in competition for the Best in Borough award. Neighborhoods that submit an application will be toured by the judging committee on Dec. 16.

All winners will be announced at the Dec. 21 City Council meeting at 7 p.m.

The deadline for entry in the individual category is Dec. 10. For the neighborhood category, it is Dec. 14.

For more information or to obtain entry forms, visit www.suffolkva.us/holidays or call Dawn Evans at 514-4000.