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

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 noon on Thursday, February 21 through Wednesday, March 6 at 11:59 p.m.
• Voting begins on noon, Thursday, March 7 and goes through March 14 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 Beverage-Air BM23 Kegerator (retail value $1,200)
2nd Place: 4 tickets to a H-T Talk Back night at the Asolo Rep (a play and post-performance HT Talk Back).
3rd Place: 4 tickets to Mote Marine.

A few rules.

• Only one limerick per person.
• While suggestive material will be considered, obscene material will be rejected.
• Finalists must be present on Sunday, 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.