Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest
Deadline February 20 (must be received by this date), formerly February 21. Neutral free contest from the annual Gaithersburg Book Festival in Gaithersburg, MD gives prizes up to $250 in gift certificates for poems, maximum 1 page, by high school students (grades 9-12) from across the Washington Metropolitan Area (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC). For 2026, poems must focus on the theme: "What Is Humanity?" Submit your entry using the sponsor's online submissions portal. Homeschool students in that age group are also eligible.
Source: https://gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/poetry-contest/
Published: December 19, 2025
