The 70th annual Irvington Halloween Festival features a writing contest for writers of any age. Contestants are encouraged to submit original poems, stories and essays that have a Halloween or autumn theme. The contest is open to all ages. Winners will read their entries at the Spooky Stories event at Irving Circle Park on Thursday, October 27.
Contest entrants are responsible for accurately communicating their grade level so that the writing is considered in the appropriate category. Participants in grades Kindergarten through 6th may submit two poems or short stories (or one of each). Participants in grades 7-12 may submit a single poem, short story or essay. Adult participants may submit a single poem, short story or essay. Entries must be e-mailed to the Irvington Halloween Festival website (www.irvingtonhalloween.com) by October 1. Any late entries will not be considered.
Essay entries should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words in length. Judging will emphasize good writing rather than length. An essay shows readers the author’s “journey of thought” about a subject. An essayist might include storytelling strategies as a way to engage readers.
Poems can be of any length. In keeping with the many types of poems that are now published, the poem does not need to rhyme or fit any specific poetic form.
Any participant can enter a short story. It can be a personal narrative or memoir or another type of true story or any kind of fiction story. Any contestant in sixth grade or younger may include illustrations to enhance the storytelling. However, works must be submitted electronically. Any illustrations need to be submitted in a separate PDF file that is attached to the email.
Entries cannot have been previously published.
The event is public, so entries should be deemed appropriate for general audiences. Any entry deemed to be inappropriate may be disqualified at the discretion of the project lead or contest judge. The contest organizer will be given the final authority to determine the qualification of any entry.
Contest winners are responsible for picking up their awards at the Spooky Stories event at Irving Circle Park on October 27 at 7:00 p.m. or at the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival booth on the day of the street fair. Contest winners who are unable to pick up their awards at the Halloween Festival booth on the day of the Street Fair may pick up their awards at the Irvington Public Library for a period of 14 days after the contest date. The Halloween Festival planning committee, project leads and contest judges are not responsible for ensuring that contest winners receive their awards.
Bookmamas is sponsoring the contest and will provide the awards.