NC State Fair adds new competition categories

The 2021 North Carolina State Fair has added several new competitions this year.

Posted 1:51 p.m. Jul 1, 2021 — Updated 1:51 p.m. Jul 1, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. — The 2021 North Carolina State Fair has added several new competitions this year.

Officials said the new categories are focused on simpler projects that can be completed within a few weeks as opposed to an entire year.

“Our hope is that these sorts of categories will serve as a gateway to getting people hooked on entering items in the fair. We always need new competitors, and the fair can always use new competitions,” competitive exhibits director John Buettner said via a press release Thursday.

These are the new competitions:

The Decorated Tables contest has been replaced by the Decorated Christmas Tree contest. Those interested in this contest will need to register first. Exhibitors will be chosen by a raffle and notified on Sept. 16. The state fair will provide tree stands and live trees (4 to 6 feet in height) for decoration. Entries will be judged on creativity, overall design and theme conformance.
Planted Wheelbarrows have been added to the Flower Show. There will be adult, youth and special needs divisions.
Painted Rocks have been added to the Handicrafts and Hobbies Department. Any type of rock, weighing one pound or less, may be used. Also any type of paint may be used. There will be four classes of Painted Rocks: Mandala Design, Message Design, Single Color Design and Plants/Animals.
Decorated Footwear has also been added to Handicrafts and Hobbies. Contestants can decorate a single shoe or a pair of shoes.
A Decorated Sock contest has also been added for children and participants with special needs. Contestants will have to turn a sock into a stuffed toy.

The registration period to enter these and other competitions runs Aug. 1 through Sept. 15. Online entry forms are due at midnight on Sept. 15 and walk-in forms are due at 5 p.m. on that day. All mailed in paper entries must be postmarked on or before Sept. 15 to be eligible.

In addition to these competitions, there will be several “walk-up” competitions taking place in Dorton Arena that will not require any registration. Designed for children to compete in, competitions will include cookie stacking, rubber chicken flinging, cookie decorating, sugar cube building and team cake decorating.

The N.C. State Fair runs Oct. 14 to 24 at the State Fairgrounds.

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