The Tamaqua Arts Center is seeking entries for its Railfest 2024 Youth Art Contest.

Children 5 to 16 years old are invited to submit their original artwork including paintings, drawings, sketches, collages, printed digital art and sculpture, explained Amanda Mincavage, the center’s events coordinator.

“We are always on the lookout for ways to provide new arts opportunities, especially for our young community members,” Mincavage said. “Since trains are such an iconic part of our lives here in Tamaqua, we decided that Railfest would be the perfect opportunity for kids to explore that connection through an art contest.”

Railfest, which is in its second year, will be held in the vicinity of the historic Tamaqua Train Station on Aug. 24, and will feature railroad displays and exhibits, railroad-themed vendors, model train layouts, vintage mining displays and more.

For the art contest, youths are to focus on the theme “Trains and the Places They Take Us.”

Mincavage said there will be age categories of 5 to 10 and 11 to 16, with first and second place prizes in each category.

Top winners will receive $50 Amazon gift cards and second place will receive $25 Amazon gift cards. The prizes were donated by a center board member.

Participants can submit their work to the center on Aug. 20 and 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. There is no fee to enter.

All of the submitted art will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during Railfest on Aug. 24. Awards will be presented at 11 a.m.

The center will have free kids’ crafts from noon to 2 p.m. and a meet and greet with featured August gallery artists Amanda D’Agostino and Terree Oakwood from 2 to 3 p.m.