Competitions
Competition Handbooks & Key Dates
Aquarium Beautiful
Aquarium Beautiful Handbook (ADULT & YOUTH)
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 1 – 3, 2025 (10:30A – 5P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P)
Categories: Freshwater Aquariums & Saltwater Aquariums
Art Portfolio Contest For High School Seniors
The Art Portfolio Contest for High School Seniors is the highlight of the Fair’s Youth Art Competitions. Over 400 students apply for just 32 spots in our exhibition. High School Seniors in Florida can win scholarship money for continuing their education. This year we are fortunate to have the Florida Dairy Farmers as our sponsor. Florida’s dairy farmers work hard every day to provide the delicious and nutritious dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt that fuel creative young minds.
$10,000 in scholarship money will be awarded this year!
First Place: $3000 • Second Place: $2000 • 10 Awards of Merit: $500 each
Baking & Canning (Preserved Foods)
Baking Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 10, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (4P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections, Gluten-Free Baking, King Arthur Flour Adult Baking Contest
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Best of Florida Baking Handbook (Award-Winning Amateurs & Professionals)
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 10, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (4P)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections & Gluten-Free Baking
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Cake Decorating Contest
THEME: THE GALAXY
Entry Form Deadline: January 31, 2025
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Preserved Foods Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 11, 2025 (9:30A – 6P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 22, 2025 (11A – 6P)
Categories: Canned Foods: Sweet Preserves, Dehydrate Foods, Pickles & Relishes, Canned Foods
Crafts (Fine Craft & Home, Holiday & Seasonal Crafts)
Fine Crafts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Ceramics, Glass & Mosaics, Jewelry, Woodworking, Leatherwork, Gourd Craft
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Home Crafts & Holiday/Seasonal Crafts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Holiday (Non-Christmas) Crafts, Seasonal Crafts, Christmas Specific Crafts, Home & Hobby Crafts, Home Décor & Accessories, Garden Art, Recycled Art
Fine Arts & Decorative Arts
Fine Arts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Painting (Oil & Water Media), Drawing, Pen & Ink & Pastel, Digital Art, 2D & 3D Mixed Media, & Sculpture
Preparing Fine Art & Decorative art entries for exhibition
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Decorative Arts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 11, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 12, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Painting (Oil & Water Media), Drawing, Pen & Ink & Pastel, Diamond Painting, Reproduction of Old Masters & Small Furniture
Horticulture
Horticulture Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 10, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 31, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 1, 2025 (9:30A – 3P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Individual Plant Families, Containers & Collections, Special Competitions
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Horticulture Display Guidelines
Categories: Plant Societies, Guilds & Organizations are invited to exhibit at the Fair. All displays should be educational artistically designed.
Needle Arts (Fiber Arts, Sewing & Quilting)
Fiber Arts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Needlework (Cross Stitch, etc.), Knitting & Crochet, Handspun Yarn, Weaving, Basket Weaving, Rug Making, Felting, Surface Design, Llama/Alpaca (Shorn)
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Sewing Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Adult Apparel, Children’s Apparel, Special Occasion Apparel, Home Décor & Accessories,
Cosplay Apparel, Recycled Fashions
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Quilting Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 3, 2025 (10A – 6P) & JAN 4, 2024 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Hand & Machine Made Quilts. See handbook for all the classes
Photography
Photography Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: B&W Photography, Color Photography, Digital Photographic Arts & Alternative Process
Photo Safari
Photo Safari Contest Rules
Categories Spend a day photographing live at the Fair!
Plein Air Painting
Porcelain Painting
Porcelain Painting Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Only porcelain-painted pieces are allowed to compete. See handbook for detailed classes.
Wood Arts (Furniture, Woodcarving, Woodturning & Woodworking)
Fine Handcrafted Furniture Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 31, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 1, 2025 (9:30A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Fine wood furniture and accessories starts with hardwood (cherry, maple, walnut and oak) as opposed to soft wood (pine and other coniferous woods). Compete in Basic & Advanced Levels.
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Woodcarving Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Alternative Delivery Date: JAN 23 – 24, 2025 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Relief Carving, In-the-Round Carving, Chip Carving, Wood Burning, Compete in Novice & Advanced Levels.
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Woodturning Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Alternative Delivery Date: JAN 23 – 24, 2025 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Vessels, Bowls & Platters, Spindles, Lidded Containers, Pens & Toys, Forms not made of wood. Compete in Novice & Advanced Levels.
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Woodworking (See Fine Craft Handbook)
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Woodworking starts with soft wood (like pine and other coniferous woods). See handbook for detailed classes.
Youth Competitions
Aquarium Beautiful Handbook (ADULT & YOUTH)
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 1 – 4, 2025 (10:30A – 5P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Freshwater Aquariums & Saltwater Aquariums
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Arts, Crafts & Photography (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: B&W Photography, Color Photography, Digital Photographic Arts & Alternative Process
PREPARING FINE ARTWORK FOR EXHIBITION
Preparing Photographs, Digital Arts & Graphic Design
Entries for Exhibition
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Baking (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 10, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 15, 2025 (4P)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections, Gluten-Free Baking, King Arthur Flour Youth Baking Contest
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Horticulture (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 10, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 31, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 1, 2025 (9:30A – 3P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 18, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Individual Plant Families, Containers & Collections, Special Competitions
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Lego (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: See handbook for all the class descriptions.
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Needle Arts (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2024 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9 – 10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 21, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Needlework (Cross Stitch, etc.), Knitting & Crochet, Handspun Yarn, Weaving, Basket Weaving, Rug Making, Felting, Surface Design, Llama/Alpaca (Shorn), Sewing & Quilting.
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Preserved Foods (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 6, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 7 – 13, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 9-10, 2025 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 11, 2025 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 19 – 20, 2025 (11A – 6P) & FEB 22, 2025 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Canned Foods: Sweet Preserves, Dehydrate Foods, Pickles & Relishes, Canned Foods
