Peeps diorama contest comes to National Harbor

Boxes of Marshmallow Peeps are lined up at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa., on April 2, 2003. Just Born Inc. is celebrating its 50th year of adorning Easter baskets and satisfying sweet tooths with the colorful confections. (AP Photo/Rick Smith) — Boxes of Marshmallow Peeps are lined up at the Just Born Inc. factory in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The family-owned company was founded in 1923. (AP Photo/Rick Smith)

The National Harbor marketing team created this diorama, to be displayed with the 2017 contest finalists beginning April 8. (Courtesy Deborah Topcik)

The Peeps Diorama Contest, sponsored for years by The Washington Post, continues in 2017, co-sponsored by the Washington City Paper and National Harbor. (Courtesy Deborah Topcik)

Amateurs such as those pictured in 2016 will get to test their competitive eating skills by consuming Peeps before the pros get to it in the National Harbor World Peeps Eating Contest on Peeps Day, April 8 2017. (Courtesy Deborah Topcik)

Juliet Lee, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, was the highest-ranked woman at the 2016 Peeps Day eating contest. She ate 140 Peeps in five minutes. (Courtesy National Harbor)

The Number 2 competitive eater in the world, Matt Stonie, won National Harbor's Peeps Day eating contest in 2016. (Courtesy National Harbor) — The Number 2 competitive eater in the world, Matt Stonie, won National Harbor’s Peeps Day eating contest in 2016. (Courtesy National Harbor)

This diorama was created by the National Harbor marketing team in 2015. (Courtesy Deborah Topcik)

The Peeps store at National Harbor, in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Courtesy Deborah Topcik)

Diorama displays can use multiple materials and display numbers of characters, but the predominant theme should feature Peeps. (Courtesy, Deborah Topcik)

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WASHINGTON — The Peeps Diorama Contest lives!

The popular spring event, sponsored for years by The Washington Post, continues in 2017, co-sponsored by National Harbor and the Washington City Paper.

There is no category or theme defined for the entries. “We just can’t wait to see what everyone has,” said Deborah Topcik of National Harbor.

Contestants need to submit photos of their entries by the evening of Monday, April 3. Six finalists will be chosen on April 7; the dioramas will be put on display at National Harbor April 8.

“It needs to be fun; it needs to be creative,” Topcik said. “Think about what’s going on the world today, in D.C., what makes you happy, what you think about in the springtime.”

The top three winners will be announced in the April 14 Washington City Paper, which will also display the dioramas of all six finalists.

Prizes

The Peeps Choice Award trophy goes to the popular-vote winner; votes are cast on Peeps Day, April 8.

Grand Prize: $500 in gift cards to National Harbor restaurants and stores
Second Place: $300 in gift cards to National Harbor restaurants and stores
Third Place: $100 gift card to a National Harbor restaurant

Diorama requirements

It can’t be larger than 3 feet wide, 2 feet deep and 2 feet tall;
The diorama name must be displayed on a sign no bigger than 12 by 3 inches;
Contestants must be at least 13 years old, but helpers can be younger.

Peeps Day at National Harbor on Saturday, April 8

11 a.m.: Dioramas go on display
Noon: Peeps Choice Award voting begins
1:30 p.m.: The National Harbor World Peeps Eating Contest hosts 10 of the top competitive eaters in the world. The No. 11 world-ranked Juliet Lee of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and No. 2 world-ranked competitive eater Matt Stonie of San Jose, California, are returning to defend world record titles set last year.

Submit your diorama to the competition.