PAUL ECKE JR. flower SHOW

Floral design

COMPETITION TIMELINE

Eligibility

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2026 LOCAL RULES

1. Completion of online entry registration shall be deemed acceptance of all rules and permission to use your name, photograph, and images and description of entries in print, digital and other media.
2. Online registration is required for all competitions and one-day contests. Online entries and any required image/document uploads are accepted until the published deadline, which specifies a date and time. Late entries will not be accepted.
3. Once registered, the exhibitor name, entry description, title, and price may not be changed. Substitutions will only be allowed in accordance with current State Rules. Fair Management is not responsible for errors on entry forms which may lead to elimination or disqualification of an entry.
4. Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
5. Exhibitors must be living at the time the online entry is submitted.
6. All non-livestock/non-agricultural entries must be the creative work of the exhibitor (whose name appears on the entry registration), be in good taste, and suitable for family viewing. Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any entry/exhibit it deems objectionable or not in accordance with competition standards.
7. If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
9. No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
10. Judges are selected for their expertise in the divisions or classes they evaluate. New judges may be appointed each year, and judging assignments may vary annually based on the needs of each competition
11. If a coordinator or judge deems an entry to be in the incorrect category, division, class, etc., he or she may direct the Entry Office to move that entry as appropriate. The Entry Office may combine divisions or classes to create an adequate judging pool.
12. Fair Management reserves the right to limit entries, and display thereof, to facilities available and to cancel any division or class in which, in its judgment, the entries are insufficient to secure adequate competition.
13. Entries must be delivered on the date(s) and times specified. Entries will not be accepted before or after the stated entry delivery date. All accepted exhibits must remain on display and shall not be removed until the stated entry pick up date. Any exhibit not picked up on the specified date becomes the property of the San Diego County Fair and will be disposed of promptly.
14. All exhibits are entered and shown at the owner’s risk. Reasonable care will be taken to prevent loss or damage to exhibits, but in no event will the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur or for the actions of third parties. Insurance, if desired, should be obtained by the exhibitor at his/her own expense.
15. Any person who violates any Local, State, or Department rule or displays unethical conduct will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) may order.
16. To ensure reliable award notification, exhibitors are responsible for submitting all address, phone number and email address updates promptly in writing to entry@sdfair.com or Entry Department, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014.
17. Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging reports rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
18. Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
19. Premium, donated cash award, and auction checks will be made payable to the exhibitor as listed on the online entry registration. Checks will be mailed within 30 days after the close of the Fair to the address shown on the online entry registration, or as updated by the exhibitor via written notification to the Entry Office. Checks not cashed within six (6) months from the date of issue will be forfeited. Replacement checks may be subject to a stop payment fee.
20. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) is required by the Internal Revenue Service to report any premium payments totaling $600 or more. Exhibitors whose awards meet or exceed this amount must submit a W-9 form before their check can be issued.
21. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) management reserves the right to amend or add to these rules and assumes no liability or responsibility not herein expressed.

California State Rules apply and are available here.

Entry Limit & Fees

Two (2) entries per exhibitor per class. Except - “Vase Off” Floral Designer Showdown, where exhibitors are limited to one entry per show. Exhibitors may enter as many classes as desired.

Professional Floral Design: $25 per entry

Petite Floral Design: $10 per entry

All other divisions: $20 per entry

Fair Tickets

Each exhibitor will receive two (2) Fair Entry Tickets per week they participate, up to eight (8) tickets total per exhibitor.

Entry Delivery and Pick Up

After registration, exhibitors will receive an email with detailed delivery instructions, including a map for accessing the Fairgrounds. Floral designs must be delivered according to the schedule below. Alternatively, exhibitors may set up their entries the day before the show by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Flower Show Coordinator.

Designs and containers may be picked up during the delivery time for the following show or during entry pick up for the last show. Any items not picked up after the entry pick-up date become the property of the Fair.

How to Enter

1. After reading all entry materials, click the “Enter Now” link below to go to the ShoWorks Entry Homepage.
2. Register as an Exhibitor.
3. Select the appropriate division and class and input the required information. (See “Divisions and Classes” below for a list of all divisions and classes.)
4. Review your entry before completing registration to ensure that you have entered the correct division and class for each entry.
5. Click the check-out button and pay for all entries.
6. Read the confirmation statement and type YES. Do not click multiple times, as it will charge you each time.

If you plan to make changes to your entries or need to leave ShoWorks at any time, SAVE YOUR CART before exiting out.

For additional help with entering, review this detailed step-by-step guide: Entry Tutorial

Still have questions?
Please call or email the Entry Office.
Phone: (858) 792-4207 • Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm

How to Prepare Your Entry for the Show

The San Diego County Fair will prepare and provide all entry tags, which exhibitors will receive during check-in at the time of delivery. Exhibitors are responsible for bringing their own tools and any materials necessary for finalizing the display of their designs. Upon completion of set-up, exhibitors must ensure all areas are clean and free of debris. Entries that are not properly constructed or maintained may be deemed ineligible, and premiums may be withheld.

Floral arrangements will remain on display until the evening before the next show. Wednesday entries: on display through Thursday night; Saturday entries: on display through Sunday night.

Design Guidelines:

• Plant Materials: Cut fruit is not permitted. Artificial plant materials and/or dyed fresh plant material are allowed only as accents, where permitted by division rules. Unless otherwise specified as “dry,” designs must include fresh plant materials. For “dry” classes, only dried materials may be used. Dry classes are designated in class titles or descriptions.
• Accessories and Props: Accessories are allowed but must not overshadow the creative use of fresh and/or dried floral and plant materials in expressing the theme or interpretation.
• Containers: Use of more than one container is permitted. All containers and accessories should be labeled with the owner’s name and phone number. Valued items, such as heirlooms, are discouraged. Hangers are not provided.
• Business Cards: Exhibitors may provide business cards in a tray or holder placed near their arrangements. Cards will be displayed by Fair staff after judging is complete.

Judging and Awards

The Paul Ecke Jr. Flower Show follows the American judging system. All judging will be conducted anonymously in a closed session with no exhibitors present. The judges' decisions are final. Failure to adhere to this rule may result in disqualification.

The following will be awarded in each class:

divisions & SHOW SCHEDULE

BEGINNER/ Amateur Floral Design DIVISIONS & CLASSES

Week 1 - Fairy Tale Magic

Week 2 - epic Adventures & Classic Tales

Week 3 - whimsical Children's Wonders

Week 4 - Americana

Professional Floral Design

Week 1 - Fairy Tale Magic

Week 2 - epic Adventures & Classic Tales

Week 3 - whimsical Children's Wonders

Week 4 - Americana

Eligibility: Classes are open to any designer (Professional, Amateur, Student, etc.)

Dimensions:

• Arrangements must not exceed 5" in height or 5" in diameter, including the container. There is no minimum height requirement.
• Backdrops and underlays are allowed, but the design should be proportionate to the size of the backdrop, if used.
• Arrangements will be displayed on a shelf positioned at approximately eye level for optimal viewing.

Materials:

• Artificial plant materials are not permitted in any class.
• For non-"dry" classes: Fresh plant materials must be the primary component, but dry or treated plant materials may be incorporated as accents.
• For "dry" classes: Only dried plant materials are allowed, which may be treated or painted.

Judging Criteria: Design Principles and Elements, Scale, Proportion (45 Points), Theme (25 Points), Technical Execution and Mechanics (15 Points), Creativity (10), Material Quality (5 points). Petites are judged according to the Floral Design Principles and Guidelines established by the National Garden Clubs, Inc.

Week 1 - Fairy Tale Magic

Week 2 - epic Adventures & Classic Tales

Week 3 - whimsical Children's Wonders

Week 4 - Americana

Wedding Floral Design

Eligibility: Classes are open to any designer.

Dimensions:

• There are no size limitations for arrangements.
• Accessories, backdrops, and underlays are encouraged to enhance the design but must not dominate or overshadow the floral arrangement.
• Arrangements will be displayed on a 24” square tabletop.

Materials:

• Artificial plant materials are not permitted.
• Fresh, dry, or treated plant materials may be used.

Judging Criteria: Theme Interpretation (25 points); Design Principles and Elements (25 points); Technical Execution and Mechanics (15 points); Creativity (25 points); Flower Quality (10 points)

Week 1 - Fairy Tale Venue Florals

Division 4500- Exhibited June 10- June 11

Theme: An Enchanted Castle Ceremony

Division 4501- Exhibited June 12- June 14

Theme: A Whimsical Garden Wedding

Week 2 - epic Drama Wearable Florals

Theme: A California Legacy Wedding

Interpretive cues: heritage, contrast, strength of land, and lineage

Division 4503- Exhibited June 19- June 21

Theme: A Jazz Age Mansion Wedding

Interpretive cues: glamour, excess, structured elegance, dramatic statement

Week 3 - whimsical Classic Romance Bouquets

Theme: A Grand Ballroom Romance

Interpretive cues: luxury, symmetry, dramatic beauty, refined romance

Theme: A Moonlit Balcony Vow

Interpretive cues: passion, movement, emotional depth, sweeping form

Week 4 - Americana Centerpieces

Theme: A Frontier Homestead Reception

Interpretive cues: frontier resilience, simplicity, handcrafted structure

Theme: A New England Family Reception

Interpretive cues: community, tradition, warmth, patriotic restraint

“Vase Off” Floral Designer Showdown Divisions & Classes

Registration Deadline: Registration closes at 5:00 PM the Tuesday before each competition.

Contest Description & Information: Participants must pre-enter. Contestants will be given specific directions for the day of fair attendance. At the time of the contest, each designer will receive a bucket of flowers and plant materials, a container, and floral designing medium (Oasis foam, chicken wire, etc.). The theme of the design will then be presented, and designers will have the opportunity to construct an arrangement.

The specified amount of time will be given at registration on the day of the competition and will be based on the size of the design as well as the skill level of the participants.

Tools: Participants must provide their own arrangement tools (knives, scissors, clippers, etc.). In addition, participants may bring any special tools or hard goods (such as ribbon, candles, ornaments, or dried plant material) they may want to use in their design. No additional soft goods or any perishable materials (live plants, fruit, cut flowers, etc.) will be allowed.

Eligibility: See Class descriptions for eligibility requirements.

Judging Criteria: Theme Interpretation (35 points); Design Principles and Elements (25 points); Technical Execution and Mechanics (25 points); Use of Materials (15 points).

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