Poets of all ages and experience are being invited to enter the Lantern Festival poetry contest.
The contest is being put on by the Maple Ridge Festival of Light Society and the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association.
Poems must be 40 lines or less and previously unpublished.
The theme of the contest is “Light. “
Shari Craig, manager of Black Bond Books in Haney Place Mall, and a small team of judges will read the poems.
“It can get really difficult,” Craig said of judging the contest.
Every poem submitted will be compiled into a book that will be for sale at Black Bond Books for $2.
Certain poets will be asked to read their piece out loud at this year’s lantern festival.
The Lantern Festival is a celebration of art, culture and diversity that will take place on Feb. 24 at Haney Place Mall. Participants will be able to make their own lanterns, watch live culturally diverse performances, including Chinese Lion Dancers, and at 7:15 p.m. participate in a lantern parade.
The first poem submitted by an individual is free and each additional submissions are $5 each.
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 5.
Poems can be dropped off at Black Bond Books in Haney Place Mall, 11900 Haney Place, or emailed to rg674806@telus.net.
Name, age, address, phone number and email address must be included with each entry.
