How does the contest work?

It's easy. Just write an awesome limerick and upload it on the "Submission" page.
Your limerick can be suggestive, but no obscenities.
Users will then vote for their favorite limerick. The Top 5 limericks with the most votes will move onto the finals.
The top 5 limerick writers will read their limerick before a panel of judges
– and eager audience – on St. Patrick’s Day in Sarasota at The Shamrock Pub St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

What is a Limerick?

A limerick must follow traditional form. Five lines with anapestic or amphibrachic meter with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA).

The typical rhythm of a limerick is like this:
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH

Please note that lines 1, 2 & 5 must rhyme and must have the same syllable count. Lines 3 & 4 must rhyme and have the same syllable count.
 
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH
bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH bah-bah-BAH

Example:
There once was a Bulldog from Arles
Who met a Chihuahua named Charles
They traded some skin
And mixed it all in
Till there was just a tail and paws

Timeline

• Submissions will be accepted from Thursday, February 20 through Wednesday, March 5 at 11:59 p.m.
• Voting begins on Thursday, March 6 and goes through March 13 at noon.
The Top 5 will be determined from this round.
• The Top 5 limericks must be recited before a panel of judges on March 17
in Sarasota at the Shamrock Pub’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration!

Prizes!

Grand Prize: A trip for two to Beer Circus Chicago on May 18th! (Includes a roundtrip flight, two-night hotel stay and a VIP tour of Lagunitas Chicago Brewery!)
2nd Place: Four (4) tickets to the Asolo Rep's "Hero, The Musical" on Tuesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m.
3rd Place: Four (4) admission tickets to Mote Marine (good thru May 31, 2014).

A few rules.

• Only one limerick per person.
• While suggestive material will be considered, obscene material will be rejected.
• Finalists must be present on Monday, Mar. 17th at The Shamrock Pub in Sarasota, FL.
• Readings will begin at approximately 6 p.m.
• Named finalist may appoint a designee to read the limerick.
• One vote per day, per registered user. All voting must follow the rules of the contest.
• The contest is open to Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota county residents who are 21 years of age and older.
• Please allow up to 24 hours for limerick to be approved and, therefore, appear online.
• Click below for complete rules.

Note: Any attempt by a contestant to vote more than once per day will result in disqualification of all activity produced by that voter.