Yes, we mean those nasty little marshmallow Easter candies that come in the form of chicks or rabbits. The idea is derived from the annual Washington Post Peeps Contest. Their contest ran for 10 years and in their final year of 2016 they had 750 entries. Just Google “Peeps diorama” and click “Images” and you’ll see a few.
Peepapalooza (or more commonly known as The Peeps Show) is a contest where people create dioramas using Peeps. The dioramas range in size but are usually two feet long, a foot high and a foot deep and follow a theme on a popular current event or local activity – such as the elections, the Olympics, Oktoberfest, a popular movie, etc.
The event is held at the Hermann Chamber of Commerce the second and third weekends each October. The cost is $5.00 per person to view the entries. In 2017 and 2018, we had around 30 entries each year with hundreds of visitors over the two-week show. Visitors get to vote on their favorite entry with the grand prize winner receiving bragging rights, their picture on the Hermann newspaper and a box of stale Peeps.
The Peepapalooza (or Peeps Show) started in 2017. Bartow Molloy, one of the founders of The Giving Council, learned of the Peeps show put on by the Washington Post and wanted to start the fun contest here. While she was at it, why not raise a little money for charity? The show runs at the Hermann Chamber of Commerce during the second and third weekends in Hermann to coincide with Oktoberfest and provide another form of entertainment for our visitors.
The first couple of years the objective was to build awareness about the show and now it’s all about raising money for The Giving Council. The building of Peeps dioramas begin in early summer with several workshops throughout the season. You can shop for Peeps online or get them from the Hermann School Administration Building for a small donation or free if you need. Bartow buys the Peeps on sale after Easter each year and provides them for the show. You won’t believe how long they stay fresh!
The long term goal for The Peepapalooza is to have hundreds of entries and even more visitors from all over flock to Hermann to see the fun.
Check out the entries from our past years….