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Image for event: All-Ages Essay Contest

All-Ages Essay Contest

Theme: "What Does America Mean to You?"
2026-05-22 00:00:00 2026-05-22 23:59:00 America/New_York All-Ages Essay Contest Calling all writing enthusiasts! The Pickerington Public Library is hosting an Essay Contest this summer! Age Categories: Kids: 0-11 | Teens: 12-17 | Adults: 18+. Offsite -

Friday, May 22
All day

Add to Calendar 2026-05-22 00:00:00 2026-05-22 23:59:00 America/New_York All-Ages Essay Contest Calling all writing enthusiasts! The Pickerington Public Library is hosting an Essay Contest this summer! Age Categories: Kids: 0-11 | Teens: 12-17 | Adults: 18+. Offsite -

Calling all writing enthusiasts! The Pickerington Public Library is hosting an Essay Contest this summer! Age Categories: Kids: 0-11 | Teens: 12-17 | Adults: 18+.

Calling all writing enthusiasts! The Pickerington Public Library is hosting an Essay Contest this summer! Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, we want to hear your thoughts, opinions, and experiences of living in the United States of America! 

Writers of all ages are invited to reflect, tell their stories, and submit an original essay for a chance to win their age category and be a featured guest at the Open Mic Night and Awards Ceremony in August. Prize baskets will be awarded to each winner in the three age groups, and one overall grand prize winner will win a $200 gift card to the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts.
 
Age Categories: 
Kids: 0-11 
Teens: 12-17  
Adults: 18+  

Essay Requirements:

  • Essays should respond to the theme “What Does America Mean to You?” 
  • Submissions must include at least one personal experience, observation, or example that helps explain the writer’s perspective. 
  • Essays must be typed. 
    • Teen & Adult essays should be 500–1,000 words in length. 
    • Kids' essays do not have a word requirement. 
  • Essays must be original work created by the participants. Submissions that contain plagiarized material, are generated by artificial intelligence tools, or are written by someone other than the participant may be disqualified at the discretion of the library. 
    • Parents of younger children may type the exact words of their child, if the child is unable to type. We recommend using speech-to-text technology, if available. 
  • By submitting an essay, participants grant the library permission to display or publish their work (with first name and last initial) for promotional or educational purposes. 
  • Typed essays may be dropped off at Pickerington Main Library or Sycamore Plaza Library.
  • In the event of a tie, the submission with the highest Reflection and Insight score will be selected as the winner
  • May. 22: Contest Opens
  • Jul. 10: Submission Deadline
  • Aug. 12: Open Mic Night & Awards 

AGE GROUP: | Tweens | Teens | Preschoolers | Kids | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Summer Reading | Outreach/Community Events | General | Adult Learning |

TAGS: | |

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Mon, May 25 Closed
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Tue, May 26 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, May 27 9:00AM to 8:00PM
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Fri, May 29 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, May 30 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, May 31 12:00PM to 5:00PM
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DIY Cat Toys - Celebrate National Pet Month
Sun, May 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Pickerington Main
Drop in to make fun take-home cat toys. We’re excited to welcome FurBaby 911, a local cat rescue. Meet adorable rescue cats and learn how you can help through volunteering, fostering, or adoption.
Library Closed - Memorial Day
Mon, May 25, All day
Pickerington Main
Both library locations are closed in observance of the holiday. Our eBranch is open 24/7.
Teen Writing Group - The perfect place to connect with other young writers
Tue, May 26, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Pickerington Main - Large Conference Room
Whether you're working on a novel, short story, poem, or comic book, the Teen Writing Group is the place for you!
Board Game Club - For Teens and Tweens
Tue, May 26, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Pickerington Main - Atrium
Connect with fellow board game enthusiasts and dive into a wide variety of tabletop experiences from light strategy to immersive gameplay.
Dungeons & Dragons - A Six-Month D&D Campaign for Adults
Tue, May 26, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room C
Register for this 6-month Dungeons & Dragons campaign!
Registration is now closed
Open Play Chess Club - Play, Learn, and Connect Over the Board
Wed, May 27, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Pickerington Main - Atrium
Drop-in experience where players can enjoy casual games, share strategies, and learn from one another.
PPL Podcast Club - True Crime in Ohio
Wed, May 27, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A
Love podcasts? Fascinated by true crime? Join us for our True Crime Podcast Club—a book club-style discussion group, but for podcasts!
Crochet+ Club - Bi-weekly Club for Teens & Tweens
Thu, May 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Pickerington Main - Atrium
Explore crochet, knitting, and more! All skill levels welcome.
Annual Awards & ATHENA Celebration - Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce
Thu, May 28, 5:00pm - 8:30pm
The Violet Woods Event Center - 10190 Blacklick-Eastern Rd.
Visit your library's table at the most anticipated Chamber event of 2026, highlighting the successes of our businesses, organizations, and leaders with the Pickerington Area Chamber Business Awards!
American Red Cross - Blood Drive
Sat, May 30, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Pickerington Main
Walk-ins welcome. For more info and to schedule an appointment: 1-800-RED CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org sponsor code: PickeringtonLibrary
10th Annual Comic Fest - Celebrate the magic of comics and graphic novels!
Sat, May 30, 11:00am - 3:00pm
Pickerington Main - Atrium,Barn,Large Conference Room,Mascot appearance,Meeting Room A,Meeting Room C,Small Conference Room
Crafts, activities, artists, and superhero-themed activities. Welcoming new and returning vendors and artists. Grab a bite to eat at local food trucks. Fun for all ages!
Family Fun: World - Early Literacy Class for Ages 2-5
Mon, Jun 01, 10:15am - 10:45am
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A,Pavilion
Classes will feature books, songs, and rhymes that will make imaginations run wild and prepare young ones for reading. Family Fun may be held outside, weather permitting.
Stories and Songs: World - Getting children ages 2 - 5 excited about reading!
Mon, Jun 01, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Sycamore Plaza - Meeting Room
Early Literacy Class for children ages 2 - 5
Page Turners Book Club - We read aloud and discuss the book in a relaxed atmosphere
Mon, Jun 01, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A
Make meaningful connections as we read and discuss a variety of books every Monday.
Canva 101 - with the Library's Technology Trainer
Mon, Jun 01, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room C
Learn the basics of the popular, free online graphic design tool.
Family Fun: World - Early Literacy Class for Ages 2-5
Tue, Jun 02, 10:15am - 10:45am
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A,Pavilion
Classes will feature books, songs, and rhymes that will make imaginations run wild and prepare young ones for reading. Family Fun may be held outside, weather permitting.
Trading Card Game Night - Open TCG Play for Teens and Adults
Tue, Jun 02, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
Sycamore Plaza - Meeting Room
An evening of strategy, discovery, and casual play with popular trading card games for teens and adults.
"The Librarians" Movie Screening - A documentary about the freedom to read
Tue, Jun 02, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A
From Academy Award nominee and Peabody winner KA Snyder Films. As book banning sweeps across the U.S., brave librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for our First Amendment Rights.
Family Fun: World - Early Literacy Class for Ages 2-5
Wed, Jun 03, 10:15am - 10:45am
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room C,Pavilion
Classes will feature books, songs, and rhymes that will make imaginations run wild and prepare young ones for reading. Family Fun may be held outside, weather permitting.
Summer Stories - with Fairfield County Park District
Wed, Jun 03, 1:00pm - 1:30pm
Pickerington Main - Meeting Room A
Join us for a delightful seasonal craft and story, presented in partnership with the Fairfield County Park District!
Open Art: Rock Painting - Creative Community Rock Painting for All Ages
Wed, Jun 03, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Sycamore Plaza - Meeting Room
Drop in for Open Art: Rock Painting, a creative, welcoming session where participants can decorate rocks with colorful paints, patterns, and designs.
AP Lit Book Club - For AP Literature and Composition Students!
Wed, Jun 03, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Sycamore Plaza - Meeting Room
Preparing for AP Literature and Composition in the fall? AP Lit Book Club is a space to discuss classic literature, ask and answer questions, and get prepared for the school year!
Open Play Chess Club - Play, Learn, and Connect Over the Board
Wed, Jun 03, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Pickerington Main - Atrium
Drop-in experience where players can enjoy casual games, share strategies, and learn from one another.
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