Mike the Headless Chicken Art Contest

2026 Poster - Theme: Patriotic 150/250 Celebration

In 2026, we aren't only celebrating Mike the Headless Chicken! We are being patriotic and celebrating America's 250th birthday and Colorado's 150th birthday! 

Add your touch to Fruita history by entering your best digital artwork for a chance to design the official 2026 Mike the Headless Chicken poster. We are reaching out to the artists of the Grand Valley Community to create a poster that is truly special and encompasses the essence of quirky Fruita and our favorite Headless Chicken, Mike.

The winner will receive a $500 cash prize (to include all exclusive reproduction rights and copyrights.) A copy of the 2026 Mike the Headless Chicken poster and other festival merchandise.

Qualifications:

• Must live in the Grand Valley area (Mack, Loma, Fruita, Grand Junction, Orchard Mesa, Clifton, Palisade, Glade Park, Redlands)

• All art entries must be digital (Photography is not eligible)

• File Format: PNG, .AI, .PSD, or Vector

• Mike the Headless Chicken needs to be the main focus of the poster.

• Artwork must be appropriate.

• The poster should utilizes the 2026 festival theme of patriotic with tribute to America's 250th birthday and/or Colorado's 150th birthday.

• Creativity! Make it your own!

• The artwork should be flexible enough to be used on other mediums (t-shirt, stickers, website, pamphlet)

The winning poster will be chosen based on the following:

• Meets the above criteria.
• Entries should represent the quirkiness of Fruita and Mike the Headless Chicken Festival.
• Incorporates the 2026 festival theme throughout the poster.
• All art must be submitted online through the form below no later than February 20, 2026, at 5 pm MTD.

                                    

ENTRY DEADLINE:  FEBRUARY 20, 2026

WINNER ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY 27, 2026

 

2026 Mike the Headless Chicken Art Contest Terms and Conditions

Please read and sign your acceptance below. 

I HEREBY AGREE TO AND ACCEPT ALL THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS:

1. Art contest is open to any Grand Valley resident (Mack, Loma, Fruita, Grand Junction, Orchard Mesa, Clifton, Palisade, Glade Park, and Redlands) and I verify that I am a resident of the Grand Valley. Art contest is open to original digital art. Photography is not eligible. Artwork should reflect Mike the Headless Chicken and the 2026 festival theme of patriotic with tribute to America's 250th birthday and/or Colorado's 150th birthday.
2. Artist represents and warrants to the City of Fruita that the Art, and all work performed by Artist in relation to the creation thereof, does not and will not violate, infringe, or misappropriate the rights of any third parties, including, without limitation, the copyright, trademark patent, or trade secrets of any third party. Further, Artist represents and warrants to the City of Fruita that: i) Artist possesses unencumbered ownership of and title to the Art; ii) as of the date of delivery of the Art to the City of Fruita, Artist has the sole and exclusive right to use the Art; iii) the Art has not been offered or accepted for sale to any party; and iv) the creation and delivery of the Art by Artist to the City of Fruita shall not violate or breach any agreement, undertaking, obligation, or promise of Artist owed to any third party.
3. If selected, the City of Fruita will purchase the winning artwork, including all graphic files, for a total fee of $500.00. This fee constitutes full compensation for the City of Fruita's ownership of the original artwork and exclusive worldwide reproduction rights in perpetuity. The City of Fruita will receive complete digital files, at 300 dpi resolution or more, for printing of the commemorative 2026 Mike the Headless Chicken poster and other merchandise.
4. The City of Fruita has the winning artist's irrevocable and unlimited license to use the art in any respect. Such irrevocable license specifically includes, without limitation, the right to make and use, install, or apply, as the case may be, reproductions of the Art without further compensation being owed or paid to Artist for the reproduction of posters, brochures, advertising, media outreach, educational and promotional materials for our events in addition to other events the City of Fruita may determine in their sole and absolute discretion.