As the holiday season approaches, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is once again accepting submissions for its annual holiday card contest.
Since 2019, children up to 12-years-old have had the opportunity to design the patrol’s holiday card. The winning artwork will be used as Colonel Charles Jones’ official holiday card, featured in the OSHP’s quarterly “Flying Wheel” magazine and displayed on patrol social media accounts.
In order for a child’s artwork to be considered, the following criteria must be met:
- Eligibility: The contest is for Ohio children ages 12 and younger.
- Paper size: The design must be submitted on a standard 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of paper.
- Mandatory inclusions:
- OSHP badge
- OSHP Flying Wheel emblem
- American flag
- The message, “Happy Holidays and Happy 250th Birthday, America”
- The child’s name cannot be written on the artwork directly.
- The patrol encourages kids to share their own original artwork. Artwork created using AI will not be eligible for judging.
Once a child’s artwork is ready to be submitted, email a well-lit photo of the artwork to HolidayCard@dps.ohio.gov. The email should include the photo of the artwork, the child’s name and grade, the child’s school name (include city and county), and a parent’s or guardian’s contact information (email and phone number).
In order to be considered for the 2026 holiday card contest, the artwork must be submitted no later than Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon.
For all submission details and deadlines, visit statepatrol.ohio.gov/holidaycard.
