Limerick Contest Round-Up

As you probably know, I run a bi-weekly Limerick-Off contest. But I’m certainly not the only limerick game in town. So here’s a round-up of some regular (and semi-regular) limerick competitions.

FREQUENt LIMERICK CONTESTS

  • Mad Kane’s Limerick-Offs: On alternate weeks, I post two limerick writing challenges. In one of them, I furnish the rhyme word, and you write the rest. And in the other, I offer a limerick theme alternative, using any rhyme word. You can always find the current Limerick-Off contest here and the most recent Limerick-Off Award winners here. (To receive an email alert whenever I post a new Limerick-Off, please email Madkane@MadKane.com Subject: MadKane’s Newsletter.)
  • Salon: Every week, Salon runs a news-oriented limerick contest. And while its contest doesn’t seem to have a permanent home, you can usually find Salon’s most recent limerick contest posts here. (Update: This contest seems to have been suspended.)
  • Lim-Ber Your Mind Weekly Lim-Ber Your Mind limerick challenges are offered every Saturday. To participate, join the limericks_n_haiku Yahoo group and watch for Saturday contest announcements.

LIMERICK COMPETITIONS HELD AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR

ANNUAL LIMERICK CONTESTS

  • Limerick Gathering Festival: This yearly competition asks you to “Bring Your Limericks To Limerick.” Previously an All-Ireland competition, the 2013 contest is international, and the finalists from online submissions “will be offered an opportunity to travel to Limerick to do battle for the title ‘Best Limerick in the World 2013!’”
  • Saline Celtic Festival: Once a year, the Saline Celtic Festival takes place in Saline Michigan. It includes music, dance, and a Celtic-themed limerick contest. Check this page in late spring for information about the current contest. (Update: I’ve learned that the 2013 Festival won’t include a limerick competition component. Let’s hope that the limerick contest is restored in 2014.)
  • Metamorphosism: Every February, Metamorphosism celebrates St. Valentine’s Day with a limerick contest. Themes vary each year, so check the site early each February for current information.
  • Spokesman-Review: Every February, The Spokesman-Review holds a limerick contest to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The contest was relaunched in early February 2013, and this search for limericks contest should help you find future contests.
  • Larson Family Winery: Each February, the winery holds a limerick contest. Not surprisingly, both the limericks and the prizes are wine-related. Check the blog in early February for contest info.
  • Imagine Learning, Inc: Each March, Imagine Learning holds a St. Patrick’s Day limerick contest. The 2013 contest is here, with special consideration “given to limericks with an educational flavor, and also to student submissions.” For future contests, check the blog home page in early March.
  • Fountain Pen Geeks: Every March, Fountain Pen Geeks holds a limerick contest in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The rules of the 2013 contest are here.
  • Crow’s Nest: Every March, the Crow’s Nest Restaurant/Tavern in Venice, Florida holds a St. Patrick’s Day limerick contest. You may enter via email or snail mail, and the 1st place prize is $100. (Based on previous winning entries, the limerick theme seems to be wide upon.)
  • Inklings Bookshop: In March, Inklings Bookshop, in Yakima Washington, hosts its annual limerick contest. Submissions are via email, the prize is an Inklings gift certificate, and no specific theme is mentioned, at least for its first (2013) contest.
  • Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society Every March, the Shippedwrecked Mariners’ Society celebrates World Poetry Day with a maritime-themed limerick contest. Email your Seafaring Limerick Competition 2013 entries to laurac@acceleris-mc.com or via the Society’s Facebook page by April 11th.
  • Glimmerglass Opera: Early each year, The Glimmerglass Opera Guild announces its yearly opera-related limerick contest. According to its January 2013 newsletter, limerick submissions are by snail mail only through June 15, and must relate to the upcoming opera season.

(If you think your limerick contest belongs here, please email Madkane@MadKane.com Subject: Limerick Contest Listing Request with your contest information, and I’ll be happy to consider it.)