Download Entry Form [PDF] Here

The Collingswood Book Festival Announces the
Third Annual Retrospect “Best of the Fest Award”


The Best Unpublished Poem - Fame and Fortune!

Fortune…$100 first prize award.
Fame…The winning poem will be read aloud creatively - and heard by thousands at the Collingswood Book Festival.

It will be a creative happening, with your winning poem in the midst! The Collingswood Book Festival is combining two of its successful creative programs this year. The Retrospect “Best of the Fest” Awards Program is teaming with the Poetry Tent to give an award for the best poem.

As the winner’s check for $100 is presented by The Retropect on the main Festival Day, October 3rd, 2009, the winning poem will be read aloud in a unique, festive and memorable fashion by an audience of thousands of Festival attendees. Something special is in the making!

Enter up to three unpublished poems. Then visit with us for a full day of festivities at the Collingswood Book Festival, including a day full of inspiring activities in the Poetry Tent.


Entry Rules and Conditions

Print out and fill out the entry form located on this site following instructions. Entries are to be mailed to:

“Best of Fest” Poetry Awards
c/o Collingswood Library
771 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ  08108

Entries must be postmarked Saturday August 15th or before. You may also hand deliver your entry to the Library’s front desk on or before that date.

1. Any poet of any age may enter.
2. Poems must be original works by the submitter and previously unpublished.  
3. Poems may take any poetic format.
4. Up to three poems may be submitted by any individual.
5. Poems of a suggested length of less than 90 lines are preferred.  
6. Inappropriate language or inferences will impact on the judging and could result in non-consideration.
7. Poems are to be entered on clearly typed paper; spacing and style are up to the submitter.
8. Submit two copies of each poem.
9. In submitting the poem as an entry, the author confers the right to the Collingswood Book Festival to the use his or her poem in those activities related to the Festival’s poetry competition, its public relations/Fest information, awards festivities, the Festival’s general operation and any awards program anthology or archive.
10. Winning entry will be read aloud by Festival attendees at the event. Runners-up will be acknowledged.
11. Winning poet will be contacted and will be invited, but not required, to attend to receive the award at a ceremony in Collingswood on the Festival Day October 3rd, 2009.
12. Submissions will not be returned.

Click here for an Official Entry Form


Questions? Email us at awards@collingswoodbookfestival.com








Stick It! Contest
- You Can Make Anything With Duct Tape…Even $100!

How? Make something extraordinary with something absolutely ordinary! Enter the Collingswood Book Festival “Stick It!” Contest for a chance to win a $100 prize
for the most original duct tape creation. Entries will be judged by our duct tape project expert, Book Festival guest author, T.L. Bonaddio, author of Stick It! 99 D.I.Y. Duct Tape Projects


Official Rules—“Stick It!” Contest

1. Entrants must be 12 years of age or older.
2. 100% of project must be made of duct tape. Paint, markers, accessories are not allowed.
3. All colors and patterns are welcome.
4. Projects will be judged on originality of design, workmanship, and creative use of duct tape. Judging will take place at the Collingswood Book Festival, Saturday, October 3, 2009. The winner will be announced at the Collingswood Book Festival, Saturday, October 3, 2009. Entrant does not have to be present to win.
5. Projects must be sent to or dropped off at the Collingswood Public Library, 771 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108, Attn: “Stick It!” Contest. Entries must be received by September 25, 2009 and be accompanied by the signed official entry form below. If your entry is an article of clothing that you plan to model, or if your project is too large to send by mail, send a photo of your project with the entry form and present your project at the Stick It! exhibit at the Collingswood Book Festival, Saturday, October 3, 2009. No entries will be allowed unless they have been registered prior to the Book Festival by September 25, 2009
6. No projects will be returned to their owners, but may be picked up at the end of the Book Festival after 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 3, 2009.
7. Projects will be displayed at the Collingswood Book Festival as space permits. Collingswood Book Festival organizers have the right to deny the exhibit of any project they deem inappropriate for a family friendly event.
8. Entrants may submit only one project. Entrants under 18 years of age must have the permission of a parent or guardian. (See entry form below)
9. All projects must be an original work.
10. Entry in the contest constitutes permission for the Collingswood Book Festival to publicize the entrant’s name, entry likeness or photograph without further permission, payment or other consideration.


Click here for an Official Entry Form