Registration closes soon for many State Fair competitions

Individual registration closes at midnight on Sept. 7 for many competitions at this year’s State Fair of Virginia.

That’s the deadline to register for competitions that involve adult and youth creative arts, including photography, quilts, yard art, handicrafts and holiday crafts. It also applies to the new Virginia Flea Market Flip, sponsored by Ashland Ace Hardware, in which participants purchase and refurbish, refresh or repurpose a flea market item for less than $100. Before and after photos must be submitted by Sept. 7.

The Sept. 7 deadline also applies to the adult and youth culinary arts, including breads, cakes, pies and recipe contests sponsored by the Virginia Egg Council and Virginia Peanut Growers Association.

Additionally, Sept. 7 is the registration deadline for open and youth crop and horticulture competitions, which include classes for corn, soybeans, tobacco, produce, giant pumpkins, giant watermelons, and houseplants; and for myriad jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, salsas and syrups in the preserved foods competition.

The registration deadline for entries submitted by schools is Sept. 14.

The 2018 State Fair will open Sept. 28 and run through Oct. 7 at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County. For more information, to register or download an entry form, or to see the 2017 State Fair competition results, visit StateFairVa.org.

Youth entries are free. Most open and adult competition classes have a $1 entry fee, though some fees vary. Individual competition guidelines on the fair website include information on when entries can be delivered to and picked up from The Meadow Event Park.