Everything you need to know to enter the 2026 Florida State Fair Baking and Canning Competitions.
2026 Baking and Canning Competition Information
We’re so excited for your interest in showcasing your talents, creativity, and hard work in our Creative Living Competitions. Check out our competition handbooks for all the details you’ll need to prepare your entries. We can’t wait to see the amazing projects you’ll share with us this year!
Baking
Entry Form Deadline: December 5, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: December 6 – 12, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 14, 2026 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 14, 2026 (5pm)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections, Gluten-Free Baking, King Arthur Flour Baking Contest
Best of Florida Baking
(Award-Winning Amateurs & Professionals)
Entry Form Deadline: December 5, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: December 6 – 12, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 14, 2026 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 14, 2026 (5pm)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections & Gluten-Free Baking
Preserved Foods
Entry Form Deadline: December 5, 2025
Late Entry Form Deadline: December 6-12, 2025 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: January 7-8, 2026 (11am-3pm), January 9, 2026 (11am-6pm) or January 10, 2026 (10am-4pm)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: February 17-20, 2026 (11am – 3pm) or February 21, 2026 (10am-2pm)
Categories: Canned Foods: Sweet Preserves, Dehydrate Foods, Pickles & Relishes, Canned Foods
How to Enter
Entering the Creative Living Competitions is quick and easy!
Choose a Competition
There are over 25 major categories to choose from ranging from Baking to Quilting to Legos to Aquariums. As well as 100’s of divisions and classes to compete.
Ways to Compete
Each competition handbook has a variety of categories to choose from.
Read the handbook before you enter online for the competition. We cannot stress this enough. It is important before you enter online that you know what division and class you are entering for each entry. The online entry form does not provide the details and information that are in the handbooks. Each Competition has a different size and number of entry limitations, as well as other specific instructions.
Entry Forms can be found in the back of each handbook and can be mailed to Creative Living at:
Creative Living Competitions
Florida State Fair
P.O. Box 11766
Tampa, FL 33680
Make checks payable to: Florida State Fair Authority
Drop off your Entries at the Florida State Fairgrounds
Most entries (except baked goods) are brought to the Fairgrounds prior to opening day (Mid-January to early February). See exact dates and times in the Competition Handbook.
Entries can also be shipped – Click here for Shipping Form.
See your entry on display during the run of the Fair from February 5-16, 2026. All entries will be displayed in the Florida Center Building at the Fair whether they receive an award or not.
Pick up your entry
Exhibitors will pick up their entries after the Fair. See exact dates and times in each Competition Handbook.
Group Application
If you are part of a guild, club, organization or school you may want to compete at the Fair. We can help to coordinate the Entry form and Entry delivery process. We want to make it easier for you to participate in Creative Living Competitions. To be sent the group entry form, Please email creativeliving@floridastatefair.com