Belleville Area Winterfest Writing Contest

Theme: How do you spend your holidays? Sign up - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBbZp8N_kXE2ib8MX2AjUGUKxMp6zQrvnMenNDwefvY1Ho-w/viewform?usp=header

Official Rules Write a maximum 250 word children’s holiday story about how you

spend your holidays. The intended audience of the story should be kids: age 12 and

under. So you’re writing a children’s story.

● Family Traditions: What special traditions do you celebrate with your family

during the holidays?

● Favorite Activities: Do you decorate a tree, bake cookies, build snowmen, watch

holiday movies, or visit holiday lights?

● Giving to Others: Do you donate toys, help someone in need, volunteer, or do

something kind for another person?

● Time with Loved Ones: Do you visit grandparents, gather with friends, share a

special meal, or celebrate with people you love?

● Making Memories: What is your favorite holiday memory, or what makes the

holidays special to you?

Tip for the kids: There are no right or wrong answers! We want to hear your own stories,

traditions, and what makes your holidays special.

Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on

Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s or whatever you celebrate

during the Holiday Season, but it is not to exceed 250 words. Title not included in word

count.)

Each qualified submission will receive a medal at the 2026 Winterfest festivities on

Saturday evening, December 5th. One entry per school age child. All judges decisions

are final.

Winners will be selected in the following categories:

● K-5 - first, second and third places

● 6-9 - first, second and third places

● 10-12 - first, second and third places

First: $75

Second: $50

Third: $25

Judging Criteria:

● Kid-appeal! - These stories are intended for a young audience ( ages 12 and

under) so we're looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.

● Adherence to the theme

● Quality of story - entries must tell a story, including a main character of some

kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny. Entries must not be merely descriptions

or mood pieces.

● Quality of Writing - Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.

● Originality and Creativity - Because that is often what sets one story above

another. And in a contest of countdowns, you will want yours to stand out from

the crowd!