2021 Junior Grand Marshal Coloring & Essay Contest!
The 2021 Pages for the Holidays Coloring and Essay contest is open to all children between the ages of 5 and 13 in the St. Louis Metropolitan area currently enrolled in Kindergarten through 8th Grades, including home schooled children.
The Holidays in St. Louis Foundation (HISL) in partnership with the St. Louis Public Library, Turn the Page LLC, St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature, Together Credit Union and NinePBS are inviting children in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade to submit their colored poster (unfinished poster found on websites), and children from 3rd through 8th Grades are encouraged to submit their original essay finishing “My favorite part of the holiday season is…”
Three finalists (first, second and third place winners) will be chosen from each of the following groups:
Coloring Contest – Kindergarten through 2nd Grade
Essay Contest–3rd and 4th Grades, 5th and 6th Grades, and 7th and 8th Grades
Coloring Page and Essay submissions must be received no later than November 17, 2021 at any of the 16 St. Louis Public Library locations or mailed to the Holidays in St. Louis Coloring and Essay Contest c/o Switch . All entries become the sole property of CISL.
Contest Rules
Children in Kindergarten through 2nd Grade are invited to submit their artwork using the coloring poster downloaded from the websites at holidaysinstl.com. Submissions must be original work of the child without adult assistance and must follow all the contest requirements to be eligible for judging. Only one entry per child allowed.
Taking a page from Mon Trice’s book, children in 3rd through 8th Grades are invited to submit an essay finishing “My favorite part of the holiday season is. . . .” Essay submissions should be:
- Original unpublished work developed specifically for this contest of at least 100 but no more than 500 words
- Typed, printed or hand written on white, 8½ x 11 inch, paper
- Must follow all the contest requirements to be eligible for judging
Parents and finalists in all four categories need to agree to the following in order to be considered in the judging contest:
- All parents and children will be available for an award ceremony at the Ameren Missouri Festival of Lights Festival scheduled at Kiener Plaza on Saturday, November 20th, 2021
- The four winners and their parent will be available for participation in the Ameren St Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 25, 2021, including a potential interview with broadcast partner, KMOV-TV, during the parade
Judging
Posters and Essays will be judged based on overall impact and creativity. Entries will not be considered for judging unless Release Form is securely attached to entry. Release form must be filled out in its entirety or it will not be considered. Decisions of the judges are final and all entries become the property of the Christmas in St. Louis Foundation.
Prizes
The four first place winners (one from each age group) will be named Junior Grand Marshals of the 2021 Ameren St. Louis Thanksgiving Day Parade and will participate, along with a parent or legal guardian, as special guests of the Parade.
In addition, the four first place winners will receive:
- Autographed copy of “Changing Seasons” by Mon Trice
- 2 Cardinals ticket vouchers redeemable for the 2022 season
- A St. Louis themed goodie bag filled with surprises!
The four second place winners (one from each age group) will receive:
- Autographed copy of “Changing Seasons” by Mon Trice
- 2 Cardinals ticket vouchers redeemable for the 2022 season
- A St. Louis themed goodie bag filled with surprises!
The four third place winners (one from each age group) will receive:
- Autographed copy of “Changing Seasons” by Mon Trice
- A St. Louis themed goodie bag filled with surprises!
Members of the Christmas in St. Louis Foundation, and their immediate family members, are not eligible to participate in this contest