Now that 2010 is coming to a close, it's time to look back over the most popular sweepstakes of 2010. This article looks at the most popular contests and sweepstakes featured on About.com Contests for every month of 2010. Remind yourself of the fun you had entering these sweepstakes.
If you're thinking of sponsoring sweepstakes, you can also get a good idea of what it takes to really catch the imagination of sweepstakes enthusiasts by studying these popular giveaways.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of January, 2010
- HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes
It's no surprise that the Dream Home Sweepstakes was the most popular giveaway this month. Opening on January 1, the 2010 Dream Home Sweepstakes gave away a $2 million prize including a home in Sandia Park, NM, a car, and $500,000 cash. - Chevy Transform Your Garage Sweepstakes
This big sweepstakes started in October of 2009 and ran through January 15, 2010. It gave entrants the chance to win their choice of two 2010 Chevrolet vehicles worth $120,000. - Dollar General Fresh Start Sweepstakes
This one-entry sweepstakes ran from January 1 - January 31st, 2010. It gave entrants the chance to win $100,000, $20,000, or more than 20,000 other cash and gift card prizes.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of February, 2010
- HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes
Yes, it topped the charts two weeks in a row. The 2010 HGTV Dream Home Sweepstakes didn't end until February 19, 2010, and its strong popularity outranked all of the other sweepstakes starting and ending this month. - DIY - Ultimate Man Caves Sweepstakes
The DIY Network launched this sweepstakes to give entrants the chance to create the perfect man cave in their own homes. The prize was $50,000 cash to be used for outfitting the perfect bar, game room, pool room, or whatever else made up the winner's man cave dreams. - General Motors - Win Jimmie's Silverado Sweepstakes
General Motors teamed up with NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson to give away this great prize, which included a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado and a trip to a NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a prize worth over $53,000. The sweepstakes ran from mid-February to March 31, 2010.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of March, 2010
- AT&T - Make Them Green with Envy Sweepstakes 2010
AT&T offered the most popular sweepstakes of March, giving away $10,000 grand prize or one of 90 instant prizes worth $100 each. This sweepstakes started on January 1st but gained popularity toward the end of its entry period on March 31, 2010. - GMAC - Get the Edge Instant Win & Sweepstakes
This is another long-running sweepstakes that perked up in popularity when it was about to enter. Running from July of 2009 to March 31, 2010, it gave away a car, Lenovo laptops, and 1,350 Exxon gas cards. - The Weather Channel - Choose and Cruise Sweepstakes
This big sweepstakes from The Weather Channel started on March 1 and ran until the very beginning of April. The grand prize was a $21,000 Disney cruise to one of four amazing destinations in Europe or the Caribbean or lots of instant prizes.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of April, 2010
- Target - Drive Home Green Sweepstakes
Just in time for Earth Day, this sweepstakes from Target gave away thousands of of earth-friendly prizes in Target's Drive Home Green Sweepstakes including a $33,000 Ford Fusion Hybrid car, a trip to a National Park, an electric scooter, and much more. - M&Ms - Great M&Ms Brand Character Vote Sweepstakes
M&Ms made a big splash wíth this sweepstakes, which opened in April and ran through July. The prizes included a $50,000 grand prize and over 19,000 instant prizes. - HGTV Green Home Sweepstakes 2010
In April, HGTV started its second home giveaway of the year, giving entrants the chance to win an environmentally-friendly home in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a car, and cash. The total prize value was more than $788,000.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of May, 2010
- King of Queens - King of the Road Sweepstakes
AutoTrader and the popular sitcom The King of Queens were behind May's most popular sweepstakes. Running from May 3 - May 31, sweepers could enter daily for the chance to win a $25,000 Autotrader.com shopping spree and a King of Queens prize pack, or one of five first prizes of King of Queens swag. - DIY - Sweat Equity Sweepstakes 2010
The number two position for May was held by DIY's popular Sweat Equity Sweepstakes, which challenges entrants to answer trivia questions about the show for extra entries. The grand prize is $75,000, while weekly winners could each win $10,000. - Trump - Time is Money Sweepstakes
This sweepstakes started at the end of April, but made a big splash in May. Running through the end of October, 2010, it offered entrants the chance to win a grand prize of $100,000 cash, monthly prizes worth between $2,500 and $25,000 or weekly prizes of spa packages, cameras, gift cards, and more. The combination of a single large prize and lots of smaller - but still very attractive - prizes contributed to its popularity.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of June, 2010
- AMC - 10K A Week Giveaway Sweepstakes
Every week for five weeks, AMC gave away a big $10,000 prize. The regular opportunities to win big made it the most popular sweepstakes of June, 2010. - Nissan - 370Z Sports Car Enthusiast Challenge and Sweepstakes
This big sweepstakes from Nissan gave entrants the chance to win a 2010 Nismo 370Z and a trip for 2 to the 23rd Annual International Z Car Convention in Franklin, Tennessee, plus other prizes. It started back in March, but last-minute entries pumped up its popularity in June, 2010. - The Next Food Network Star - Taste of Fame Sweepstakes
This sweepstakes combined two very popular prizes to boost it into the number three rank out of the hundreds of sweepstakes running in June, 2010. The $38,000 grand prize included a trip to the Food and Wine Festival in New York _and_ a Buick LaCrosse CXS vehicle.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of July, 2010
- Versus - Cadillac Lead the Pack Sweepstakes
Versus took the lead in July, 2010 by bringing back this sweepstakes, celebrating the Tour de France. Winners took home a trip to France for next year's race or all kinds of racing gear from their favorite teams. Versus raised excitement for this sweepstakes by asking sweepers to find codes on different websites, on TV, in magazines, etc. to enter. - Sears - Share In the Celebration Sweepstakes
A great grand prize of a 2011 Toyota Tundra Double Cab vehicle, plus an assortment of really attractive secondary prizes, made this Sears sweepstakes a hit with About.com readers. It ran through the entire month of July, starting on the first and ending on the 31st. - TBS and Twix - 10,000 Reasons to Chew It Over Sweepstakes
TBS and Twix teamed up to offer my favorite kind of sweepstakes. This one had a big grand prize of $10,000 cash, plus lots an lots of instant prizes consisting of 150 Twix Pause Packs and 1,000 coupons for free Twix bars. It started in mid-June and ran through mid-July, so it was only active for half the month. It might have moved even higher in rank if it had taken place entirely in July.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of August, 2010
- HGTV - Great Fall Fix-Up Sweepstakes 2010
HGTV took the number one place for the most popular giveaway of August, 2010 with the Great Fall Fix-Up Sweepstakes, which gave entrants the chance to win a $75,000 cash prize to use to fix up their homes. This big sweepstakes started in July and ran until the end of August. - Honda - CR-Z Summer Sweepstakes
Honda came in number 2 in August by combining two fantastic prizes into one giveaway. The grand prize included a 2011 Honda CR-Z EX Automobile and a trip to Disneyland. Honda's sweepstakes ended on August 29, 2010. - Kohls - Eat Pray Love Sweepstakes
Kohls claimed the third most-popular sweepstakes of August with this sweepstakes that promoted the popular movie, Eat Pray Love. The prize was a $14,000 trip to Italy to attend the movie's premiere.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of September, 2010
- HGTV - Urban Oasis Giveaway Sweepstakes
HGTV launched this exciting sweepstakes this year in the spirit of the HGTV Dream Home. The huge prize including a stunning apartment in New York City and a 2010 Acura ZDX automobile, a prize worth $1.5 million. There was also an $850,000 cash alternative, for any winner who didn't want to take possession of the apartment. This sweepstakes started in September and ran through October. - HGTV - Car Hunters Challenge Sweepstakes
HGTV took the number two most popular sweepstakes in September, with this sweepstakes. Like House Hunters, Car Hunters asked people to test-drive different models of cars to find one that best fit their needs. This sweepstakes gave the winner a choice: take home $40,000 in cash or a Chevy Equinox vehicle. - Fashion Bug - Ultimate Accessory Sweepstakes
Fashion Bug took third place for most popular giveaway in September with this cute sweepstakes, which gave away anybody's favorite fashion accessory - an adorable car. Running from the first through the last day of September, this sweepstakes also included runners-up prizes of a trip to Disney World or Fashion Bug gift cards.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of October, 2010
- HGTV - Urban Oasis Giveaway Sweepstakes
The Urban Oasis Giveaway held on to the number one position throughout October, despite ending on October 20th. The excitement of the huge prize made it a very popular sweepstakes indeed. - Trump - Time is Money Sweepstakes
The Trump Organization had the second most-popular sweepstakes in October, with this big giveaway. Prizes included $100,000 cash, a $30,000 trip, monthly prizes worth between $2,500 and $25,000 or weekly prizes of spa packages, cameras, gift cards, and more. Daily entry was open through the end of October. - Hostess - Hand Out Hostess on Halloween Sweepstakes
Hostess celebrated Halloween in 2010 by giving entrants the chance to win up to a million dollars in cash! There were also 100 instant prizes of comics-related prizes. Halloween sweepstakes are always fun, and the big prize with this one made it a particular hit.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of November, 2010
- HGTV - Car Hunters Challenge Sweepstakes
HGTV continued to hold the number one position among popular sweepstakes in November of 2010, this time with the Car Hunters Challenge Sweepstakes, co-hosted by Chevrolet. This sweepstakes gave entrants the chance to win their choice of $40,000 in cash or a Chevy Equinox vehicle, and ran through December 27, 2010. - Ford - 2010 Drive One Tour Sweepstakes
The second most-popular sweepstakes in November of 2010 was also a car sweepstakes. This time, this long-running Ford sweepstakes captured the second biggest number of eyeballs. It started back in February of 2010, and ran through the end of the year. Its grand prize was the winner's choice of any 2011 Ford Vehicle worth up to $30,000, and over 300 instant prizes were also awarded. - Fox Home Entertainment - $75,000 Scratch Off Instant Sweepstakes
The third most-popular sweepstakes of November 2010 was also an older sweepstakes. Fox's big instant giveaway started in March and ran through the end of the year. It gave entrants the chance to win a $75,000 cash grand prize, or over 300 other instant prizes. It's interesting that none of November's most popular sweepstakes actually started in November.
Most Popular Sweepstakes of December, 2010
- Ford - 2010 Drive One Tour Sweepstakes
December saw the most popular sweepstakes from November continue their hold, although in a different order. Ford's Drive One Tour, with it's ability to win a car or instant prizes took the number-one position. - HGTV - Car Hunters Challenge Sweepstakes
HGTV's Car Hunters Challenge Sweepstakes dropped to number two in December, perhaps in part because it ended a few days earlier than its two other chief competitors. - Fox Home Entertainment - $75,000 Scratch Off Instant Sweepstakes
Fox Home Entertainment's $75,000 Scratch Off Instant Sweepstakes took the number three position again in December, with its allure of a big cash prize.
If you're curious, the fourth most-popular sweepstakes in December was actually a new one: Oprah's 12 Day Holiday Give-O-Way Sweepstakes, which ran for only 12 days, but still was close on Fox's heels. Each of the 12 winners received $30,000 worth of prizes from Oprah's O List.
