Hillsborough Township Announces “History of Hillsborough” Diorama Contest

Hillsborough Township is 250 years old! This is a time to celebrate the history and progress of the community. With that in mind,  the municipality will be hosting a variety of commemorative activities and events throughout the year, including a “History of Hillsborough” diorama contest. All residents, businesses, community groups, classrooms, clubs and organizations are invited and encouraged to participate.

Dioramas should depict a meaningful time in history as it relates to the individual, business or organization and will be publicly displayed at a future date to be announced.

“Beyond creating an enjoyable place for residents to relax and visit with friends and families, we see this event as a positive way to celebrate the community spirit of Hillsborough,” said Mayor Shawn Lipani. “We hope everyone will join us for this fun and meaningful activity.”

Dioramas will be judged in several categories including age groups, group dioramas, Residents' Choice, and Mayor’s Choice. Registration closes May 15, 2021.

Contest entry categories:

• Individual Youth 12 and under
• Individual Youth 13 – 18
• Individual Adult over 18
• School Group
• Organization Group
• Business Group

Contest judging in the following categories:

• Youth 12 and under
• Youth 13-18
• Adult over 18
• Group
• Residents Choice
• Mayor’s Choice or Township Committee Choice

Registration:

Please register by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Please send us an email with the following information:

• Your name 
• Email and phone 
• Entry category and age
• Name of your Business or Organization
• REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 1

You will receive a confirmation email upon our receipt of your registration.

Further details about diorama photo submission, drop off and pick up will be sent out as the event date approaches.  

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

 How to Build a Diorama

Building a diorama is a fun DIY project in which you can create an exciting scene in a small space. Dioramas allow a lot of room for creativity and innovation. Dioramas usually display a historical time period, a nature scene, or a fictional situation, building a diorama is an easy and enjoyable project!

Choose a concept or theme. Dioramas are small scenes created of layers of materials, all depicting a similar concept or theme.  You can choose to portray any historical time period in the 250 year history of Hillsborough from 1771 to 2021.

Make a list of the items you’ll need and gather your supplies. Though the items you’ll need depend on the concept or theme, you may want modeling clay, construction paper, glue, scissors, paint and a paintbrush, markers, felt, and fabric scraps. You may also want miniatures, like figures or furniture, found objects, like rocks and twigs, and printed pictures or magazine pages. 

Research the subject. Once you’ve chosen a theme, you’ll need to do research to make your diorama as lifelike as possible. Find out as much as you can about your chosen theme so you can include both large and small details.

Select a container. Because dioramas have layers of background, they should be made in a box or frame that is several inches deep. The container must have an open-faced front so that viewers can see the scene. A shoe box or shipping box turned on its side works incredibly well for creating a basic diorama.  Business or Group may select a slightly larger box.

***There are tons of great how to & ideas available online.  Simply search “Diorama how to”"