Holiday Writing Contest
Can You Tell a Good Christmas Tale?
We start the story...and you finish it...in our 20th annual holiday writing contest!
We know many of our readers like to spin a good yarn—maybe not professionally, but just for the fun of expressing themselves. Or perhaps you enjoy writing down family memories for your kids or grandkids to cherish for years to come.
If that sounds like you, here's a chance to demonstrate your way with words...and maybe even win a fun prize!
Below is the start of a Christmas story—written in such a way that it could have all kinds of surprise endings. That's where the fun begins. We'd like you to finish the story in 300 words or less. Our editors will carefully study the entries and print the best ones in the February/March 2027 issue.
First Prize
A weekend getaway for two in Kalona, including:
- A stay at the Dutch Country Inn
- Dinner at the Dutch Country Table
- And much more!
Second Prize
$150 gift assortment of tasty cheeses and snacks from Hinterland Dairy
Third Prize
A gift assortment of handmade chocolates from Lillie Mae Chocolates.
The deadline for this contest is Friday, December 11.
With that, here is the beginning of the Christmas story that we'd love for you to give an ending:
RED AND GREEN LIGHTS shining from the church hall windows reflected off the falling snow as the flakes glittered toward the ground in Corning.
It had been a frosty two blocks walking from his house to St. Patrick Catholic Church, but Caleb didn't mind the cold that evening. He had already spent the morning helping the church ladies put up the decorations for the Christmas celebration.
All the while he worked, he savored the delightful aroma of roasting ham and those famous cheesy potatoes Mrs. Danvers made every year. He was definitely going to get a heaping scoop of those come suppertime.
He couldn't wait to see the hall filled with his friends, neighbors and folks from surrounding towns. The Christmas festival was always the talk of the town, from the youngest to the oldest parishioners. Even those who had worshiped here as children returned for the celebration.
Everyone enjoyed a generous helping of community and merriment on this special night.
In the kids' area, Caleb had hung balloons to look like ornaments in the dart-throwing game. He strung sparkling garland over the "Pin the Nose on Rudolph" poster.
He was proud of how he'd leaned the Christmas tree bean bag toss just so against the window frame to make the game challenging, but not so hard the little ones couldn't score a few points. He'd tested out a few throws, just to be sure.
As he entered the quickly filling hall, Caleb's heart swelled to hear the hearty conversation and laughter.
Exciting raffle prizes lined the tables nearest the door. There were a few items laid out that caught Caleb's eye. Last year he'd won Shelley Blake's hand-knitted mittens, which were still the warmest he'd ever worn.
He peeked into the Secret Santa Shop as volunteers were straightening dime-store toys for kids to buy as gifts.
Don't get distracted, he laughed to himself as he checked the costumes hanging behind the manger backdrop for the Nativity play the Sunday school kids would be putting on. Don't forget what tonight is about!
Because Caleb was planning to make this Christmas season extra special...
THAT’S THE BEGINNING… you take it from there. Limit your ending to 300 words (not counting our beginning).
The deadline is Friday, December 11. That way we’ll have time to judge the entries and pick the best ones for our next issue.
