Competition Handbooks & Key Dates
Aquarium Beautiful
Aquarium Beautiful Handbook (ADULT & YOUTH)
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 3 – 6 2024 (10:30A – 5P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
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 12, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (4P)
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 12, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (4P)
Categories: Bread, Cakes, Pies & Pastry, Cookies, Confections & Gluten-Free Baking
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Cake Decorating Contest
Entry Form Deadline: FEB 2, 2024
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (9A – 10A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (4P)
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Preserved Foods Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Canned Foods: Sweet Preserves, Dehydrate Foods, Pickles & Relishes, Canned Foods
Barn Quilt
Barn Quilt Handbook
Entry Form & Designs Deadline: NOV 16, 2023
Notification of Acceptance: NOV 20, 2023
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: By JAN 13, 2024 (10A – 6P))
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: The Fair owns the Barn Quilts after they are submitted. The Fair owns the Barn Quilts after they are submitted.
Crafts (Fine Craft & Home, Holiday & Seasonal Crafts)
Fine Crafts Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 12, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 2, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 3, 2024 (9:30A – 3P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Individual Plant Families, Containers & Collections, Special Competitions
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Horticulture Display Guidelines
Entry Form Deadline: JAN 31, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Setup your Display: FEB 2 – 6, 2024 (9A – 9P)
Remove your Displays at the Fair: FEB 20 – 21, 2024 (9A – 9P)
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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 5, 2024 (10A – 6P) & JAN 6, 2024 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Hand & Machine Made Quilts. See handbook for all the classes
Photography
Photography Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: B&W Photography, Color Photography, Digital Photographic Arts & Alternative Process
Photo Safari
Photo Safari Contest Rules
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 31, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: No Late Entry Dates
Entries uploaded any time between: FEB 8 – FEB 20, 2024
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: No Pickup
Categories Spend a day photographing live at the Fair!
Plein Air Painting
Plein Air Painting Contest Rules
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 31, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: No Late Entry Dates
This is a one-day contest: FEB 13, 2024
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories Spend a day painting live at the Fair!
Porcelain Painting
Porcelain Painting Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 2, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 3, 2024 (9:30A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Alternative Delivery Date: JAN 25 – 26, 2024 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Alternative Delivery Date: JAN 25 – 26, 2024 (10A – 2P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 3 – 6 2024 (10:30A – 5P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Freshwater Aquariums & Saltwater Aquariums
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Arts, Crafts & Photography (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 12, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (9A – 11A)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 17, 2024 (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 12, 2024
Late Entry Form Deadline: NO late entry dates
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: FEB 2, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & FEB 3, 2024 (9:30A – 3P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 20, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Individual Plant Families, Containers & Collections, Special Competitions
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Lego (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: See handbook for all the class descriptions.
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Needle Arts (YOUTH) Handbook
Entry Form Deadline: DEC 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (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 8, 2023
Late Entry Form Deadline: DEC 9 – 15, 2023 (extra charges apply)
Deliver Your Entry to the Fair: JAN 11 – 12, 2024 (9:30A – 6P) & JAN 13, 2024 (9:30A – 4P)
Pickup your Entry at the Fair: FEB 21 – 23, 2024 (11A – 6P) & FEB 24, 2024 (11A – 3P)
Categories: Canned Foods: Sweet Preserves, Dehydrate Foods, Pickles & Relishes, Canned Foods
