2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA 92014
858-755-1161

One-Day Contests — Kids & Teens

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 kids and teens. Click to see the contests for adults and all ages.

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.

Download information on all the Kids Best Contests (This also is the link for many of the individual contests.)

2009 Youth Vegetable/Fruit Contests
Contest dates: Various dates during the Fair; please see form for details
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Bring contest form and entry to Fair.

Robot 2009 Robotics Competitions
Contest dates: First Teams, Saturday, June 13; VEX and Lego, Saturday, June 20
Registration Deadline: Registration has closed for this contest. Come watch these fun robots and the talented students who made them!

Decorated Cookies
Bring one large or three small cookies to decorate at the Fair! We'll have all the fun stuff to make them special.
Contest date: Saturday, June 13
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

NEW! Cinnamon Rolls
Bring three homemade cinnamon rolls, plain or with nuts or frosting.
Contest date: Sunday, June 14
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

Baby Derby
Contest: Sunday, June 14 and Sunday, June 28; 1:30PM; San Diego Showcase Stage. Also, Sunday, June 21, 1:30PM, Infield Stage
Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. This contest is open to crawling infants, who crawl from one end of a mat to the other — first one across the finish line wins! (And those who take their first steps are disqualified, unfortunately.)

2009 Pocket Pet Contest
Pets small enough to fit in an exhibitor's pocket (but will be brought to the Fair in a cage)
Contest date: Sunday, June 14
Registration deadline: Registration has closed for this contest.

Homemade Cakes & Cupcakes
Bring half a cake or six cupcakes, with or without frosting
Contest date: Wednesday, June 17
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. 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 date: Friday, June 19
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

Art Gallery
Have your painting or drawing, done freehand or by computer, judged.
Contest date: Friday, June 19
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

Kids with ribbons Trash to Treasure Recycled Art
Make art out of recycled materials.
Contest date: Saturday, June 20
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

SPAM™ Kid Chef of the Year
Create an amazing appetizer with any variety of SPAM, and have the chance to become the national winner.
Contest date: Sunday, June 21
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 7-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

Homemade Rolls & Breads
Bring six rolls or one loaf of bread, coffee cake, muffins or other types of breads.
Contest date: Wednesday, June 24
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

Best Brownies
Bring six great-tasting brownies.
Contest date: Friday, June 26
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.

2009 Zucchini Race Contest
Attach wheels to a zucchini, decorate it, and race it!
Contest date: Saturday, June 27
Registration deadline: Wednesday, May 20. Processing fee is $3.00. Contest is for ages 5-12.

2009 International Autonomous Robot Contest
Contest dates: June 27-29
Registration deadline: Registration has closed. Please see the PDF document (link is the title above) for more information on this contest, or see this Web site: www.iaroc.org.

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.

NEW! Hannah Montana Look-a-Like Day
Dress up like Hannah Montana and sing on our Karaoke stage. Ribbons for best costume and best singing.
Contest date: Saturday, July 4
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Please click the contest title for details.

NEW! Idol Day, Karaoke
Sing your favorite song and win a blue ribbon!
Contest date: Saturday, July 4
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Please click the contest title for details.

NEW! Crazy Hair Day
Come to the Fair with an original hair design and win a blue ribbon.
Contest date: Sunday, July 5
Registration deadline: No pre-registration. Open to kids aged 5-17. Bring contest form and entry to Fair. Please click the contest title for details.