A little competition can be fun, especially when it involves eating cookies.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 8, the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library will host the 2nd annual Public Library Cookie Contest & Swap.

WCVPL director Katrina Stokes said the idea to host a cookie competition and swap came about after she visited another library in the state.

“A colleague who had done a cookie swap for four years in a row at the Flowood library was telling me about her program and invited me to see it, and it was from her that I got the idea and the basic plan we did last year,” Stokes said.

Last year in Vicksburg, participants brought their cookies in for the competition and then everyone voted on the winner. Following the voting, Stokes said, everyone enjoyed swapping cookies.

Some changes

This year, however, there have been a few changes.

“I decided to make it a little closer to what my colleague had done,” Stokes said.

“She actually invited local bakers to come be the judges and that is what we have done this year. We got Ms. Felicia McKnight, owner of The Mad Baker, and Ms. Shelley Carr, owner of Shel’s Sweets,” Stokes said, coming to be the judges.

“I though it would be fantastic if we got two local business owners to come and be the judges, especially if they happen to be bakers. So I thought the idea of presenting a cookie and having it judged by a professional in that area was a good idea. Plus, it is really lovely to have some of our local businesses come and be involved in our community events,” Stokes said.

Another change taking place in this year’s local cookie competition and swap, Stokes said, is that the competition will be divided into six categories.

Five of the categories will be based on age, which includes competition between ages five to 10, 11 to 15, 16 to 18, 20 to 50 and 50 and older.

The sixth category will include non-cookie entries, such as brownies and tartlets, Stokes said.

For the competition, participants are asked to bring two-dozen cookies — one to share and then one to swap. Up to three entries per family will be allowed.

Local businesses, groups, offices and organizations are also encouraged to participate, Stokes said.

All entries must be accompanied with a recipe and presentation of the sweets will also be considered when determining a winner.

Judging will begin at 10:30 a.m.

First, second and third place winners in each category will receive a medallion and the grand prize winner will receive a plaque, along with the winning recipe being published in The Vicksburg Post, Stokes said.

Other events

During the judging, Stokes said, participants are invited to enjoy snacks provided by the library, music, craft activities, photo opportunities and games.

“This is a great opportunity for us to introduce some of the new board games and card games that we have recently required through a grant,” Stokes said, adding the library plans to make these games available for check out soon.

The Public Library Cookie Contest & Swap is free and open to the public.

In addition to having fun, Stokes said, she hopes the event will encourage people to take advantage of the library’s cookbook selection while also reminding them the library is not just about reading.

“We are more that just books,” Stokes said. “We are also trying to offer fun events that are not just about learning and not necessarily about reading.”

For more information, call 601-636-6411 or visit WCVPL Facebook page.