One-Day Contests — Adults & All Ages
The San Diego County Fair is over for 2009. We had tons of fun, and we hope you did, too! We have left the information about the 2009 Fair on the Web site so that you'll have an idea of what it's all about. Much of this information will disappear at the end of 2009 when we will have the re-designed Web site featuring the 2010 Fair theme. Please check back in April or May, 2010, for updated information on activities at the 2010 San Diego County Fair.
The San Diego County Fair has many one-day contests. Some are for cooks, some are for crafters and some are for people who just like to have fun.
The contests below are for adults and all ages. Click to see the contests for kids and teens. (Some contests that kids can enter will be on this page in the All Ages category.)
Please note the following about the one-day contests:
- If a contest has a registration deadline listed, then pre-registration is required for that contest.
- Contests are listed in chronological order, by the registration deadline or by the contest date (if the contest has no pre-registration requirement or if the entry date has passed).
- Some contests will admit you to the Fair free on the day of the contest between certain hours, provided you have a completed entry form and your entry when you go through the gate. Please click the links on individual contests to find out whether free admission is offered for that contest or not. If a contest has no link, it does not offer free admission.
- When the contest date has passed, the contest information will be removed from this page.
- Contest titles in purple are links are to PDF documents. Get the Adobe Reader program, so you can download and print these PDF documents.
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Contests for adults
Contests for all ages
These contests are listed in chronological order, by either a registration deadline, or by the contest date, if there is no pre-registration required. Some of these contests may have a minimum age requirement; please see the contest details.
Pie Eating Contest
Contest: Daily; noon on the Plaza Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.
Farm Contests: Watermelon Seed Spitting, Corn Husking, Worm Racing
Contest: Daily; 12:30PM (seed spitting), 1:30PM (corn husking) and 2:30PM (worm racing) at The Farm in the Sparkletts Water Infield
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.
 Three O'Clock Fun
Contest: Daily; 3:00PM in the Sparkletts Water Infield Contest Area
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. Hula hoops, sack races, and other traditional fun.
Bubble Gum Blowing Contest
Contest: Opening Day, June 12; Tuesday, June 23; Saturday, June 27; 2:00PM, Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.
Best Animal Noise Contest
Contest: Saturday, June 13; Tuesday, June 16; Wednesday, June 17; and Monday, June 29, 2:00PM, Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.
2009 Daylight Photo Shootout
Contest date: Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 28
Registration deadline: Registration has closed for this contest; the information is left online in case the entrants need to refer to the information.
2009 Cell Phone Photo Contest
Contest dates: June 13-21
Registration deadline: No pre-registration required. Come to the Fair, take a photo with your cell phone and email it by 5:00PM June 21. This contest open to Fair patrons age 5 and older.
NEW! Kazoo That Tune
Contest: Friday, June 19; Friday, June 26; Wednesday, July 1; and Sunday, July 5, 2:00PM, Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. Bring your top-level kazoo playing skills to this one!
Frozen T-Shirt Contest
Contest: Saturday, June 20; Tuesday, June 30; and Saturday, July 4; 1:30PM; Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. Contestants get a folded, frozen T-shirt and must unfold it and put it on to win the T-shirt and a ribbon.
NEW! Ugliest Rock, Painted Rock
Contest date: Saturday, June 20
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Bring contest form and entry to Fair.
Family Look-Alike Contest
Contest: Saturday, June 20; 2:00PM; Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. This contest is open to family members who look like each other, such as parent-child, twins and siblings.
2009 Produce Contests
Contest dates: Fruits and Vegetables, Saturday, June 20
Zucchini Contest, Saturday, June 27
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
San Diego A Cappella Festival
Date of contest: Sunday, June 21
Entry deadline: Registration has closed for this contest. Please click the contest title for details, and come watch these talented groups!
Hip Hop Dance Battle
Date of contest: Thursday, June 25
Entry deadline: Registration has closed for this contest. Please click the contest title for details, and come watch these talented groups!
NEW! Freeze Dance Contest
Contest: Wednesday, June 24; and Tuesday, June 30, 2:00PM, Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. Dance until the music stops — then freeze!
2009 Twilight and Night Photo Shootout
Contest dates: Thursday, June 25 (twilight; the night shootout was June 19)
Registration deadline: Registration has closed for this contest; the information is left online in case the entrants need to refer to the information. Entry must be postmarked by Friday, June 12 for the June 19 shootout and Thursday, June 18 for the June 25 shootout. Entries limited to the first 40 to register.
Registration fee: $5.00 per entry prior to day of contest; $10.00 day of contest (if space is still available). Fees are non-refundable.
Ballroom Dance Contest
Contest: Thursday, July 2; 4:00PM on the San Diego Showcase Stage
Registration Deadline: Enter at the Fair from 3:30-4:00PM. This contest is open to ages 13 and older.
Most Patriotic Costume Contest
Contest: Saturday, July 4; 3:30PM; Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.
Contests for adults
- These contests are listed in chronological order, by the contest date.
- Download information on all the Home & Hobby Contests (This also is the link for many of the individual contests.)
The Great American SPAM™ Championship
Make something great to eat with SPAM™ in this contest that moves the winner toward a national title.
Contest: Saturday, June 13
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship
Make something delicious with Ghirardelli premium baking products.
Contests: Sunday, June 14
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
 Jalapeño Eating Contest
Contest: Sunday, June 14, 4:30PM, Plaza Stage; Wednesday, July 1, 4:00PM, Chevrolet Paddock Stage; Saturday, July 4, 4:00PM, Plaza Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. Eat the most jalapeño peppers and win a ribbon (and a bottle of antacids).
NEW! Lindsay Olive Lovers Salad Challenge
Create a delicious salad using Lindsay olives.
Contests: Tuesday, June 16
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Nimble Fingers Crochet Contest
Bring a skein of yarn; the Fair will provide crochet hooks and a pattern.
Contest: Wednesday, June 17
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Lotsa Pasta Contest
Make your favorite pasta dish.
Contest: Thursday, June 18
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Help A Child Smile
Make a soft animal, doll, toy or blanket. Each entry will be donated to the Palomar Pomerado Health System, Child Abuse Program
Contest: Friday, June 19
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Make It With Malt-O-Meal
Create a recipe using any Malt-O-Meal cold cereal.
Contest: Saturday, June 20
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Salsa Contest
Make your favorite salsa of vegetables, fruit or something unusual.
Contest: Sunday, June 21
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
 Cupcakes and Muffins (in cooperation with Les Dames d'Escoffier International)
Contest: Tuesday, June 23
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Nimble Fingers Knitting Contest
Bring a skein of yarn; the Fair will provide knitting needles and a pattern.
Contest: Wednesday, June 24
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Antique Contest
Bring an antique item, at least 75 years old. Categories are most unusual, family heirloom, kitchen utensils and most unique useful item
Contest: Thursday, June 25
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
2009 Plein Air Painting Contest
Artists: Set up your easel at the Fair and paint a scene. Pre-registration is required.
Contest date: Thursday, June 25
Registration deadline: Registration closed Tuesday, June 16
Pie Day
Bake a pie, bring it to the Fair. Categories are apple, cherry, chocolate, nut, other fruit, and other non-fruit.
Contest: Friday, June 26
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
NEW! Cooking With Beer
In conjunction with the San Diego International Beer Festival June 26-27 at the Fair, create something that uses beer as an ingredient. Categories are baked items, appetizer and main dish.
Contest: Saturday, June 27 (This contest was listed as being on Friday, June 26, earlier, though the date was correct on the entry form. We apologize for the error and any confusion.)
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
NEW! King Arthur Flour "Great Cake Contest"
Bake a cake using King Arthur Flour and possibly having your winning entry featured on the King Arthur Web site.
Contest: Sunday, June 28
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Elvis Tribute Contest
Date of contest: Sunday, June 28
Registration deadline: Registration has closed for this contest. Please click the contest title for details, and come watch these talented performers!
NEW! Concert Night Food
Prepare a dish suitable for an opera, jazz night, symphony, rock 'n' roll concert or any other music genre.
Contest: Monday, June 29
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Recycled Wearable Art
Create a wearable art piece (jewelry, hat, clothing) with 80 percent recycled materials.
Contest: Tuesday, June 30
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
Yarn Block Competition
Knit or crochet a 12x12-inch red/white/blue square. Squares will be stitched into blankets at a later time and donated to the VA Hospital in San Diego
Contest: Wednesday, July 1
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
2009 Small Image Contest
Bring 2D or 3D artwork, no larger than 7x7 inches (2D) or 7x7x7 inches (3D)
Contest date: Thursday, July 2
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Bring contest form and entry to Fair.
Fair Memorabilia
Bring something historic from a past Fair (San Diego County Fair, Del Mar Fair, Southern California Exposition). Categories are Fair photos, Fair prizes or ribbons and any other Fair memorabilia.
Contest: Thursday, July 2
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
NEW! 2009 Cell Phone Texting Contest "Thumbs of Fury"
Contest date: Friday, July 3
Registration deadline: Registration can be accomplished either in advance (and you'll get free admission to the Fair) or the day of the contest (no free admission). Click the link above to download the rules and entry form. This is a two-person team contest open Fair patrons age 11 and older. One person will text, the other will receive the message, and vice versa.
Fresh Taste For The Family (Hidden Valley® Dressings Recipe Contest)
Bring an appetizer, side dish or entrée made with fresh ingredients and Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix.
Contest: Friday, July 3
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
"Quilt of Valor" Quilt Block Contest
Sew a quilt block with red/white/blue fabrics. Blocks will be sewn into quilts for injured war veterans. Click on contest title above for details.
Contest: Saturday, July 4
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to adults 18 and older. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.
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