Home Arts competitive exhibition

The San Diego County Fair's Home Arts & Hobbies' Decorated Foods & Liqueurs Competition invites kitchen artists to showcase their skills and creative talents in all things that make desserts visually stunning. This competition provides kitchen enthusiasts with the chance to win cash prizes as well as the unique opportunity to show off their beautiful creations to thousands of fair visitors.

Competition Timeline

Entry Deadline	Monday, May 4, 2026, by 7:59pm
Entry Delivery	Saturday, June 6, 2026, 7am-10am
Fair Dates	Wednesday, June 10 – Sunday, July 5, 2026 (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Decorated Food and Liqueur Bottle Pick Up	Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 10am-4pm
Culinary Awards Reception	Friday, July 3, 2026, at 2pm

Eligibility

Open to all adults aged 18 years old by the Entry Deadline(s) listed.
Entries must be original work of the exhibitor whose name appears on the registration.
Culinary entries made by two or more individuals may be entered by one exhibitor only.
Please see divisions for additional eligibility requirements.

CONTACT US

Veronica Navarro, Coordinator

Trish Bresser, Assistant Coordinator

San Diego County Fair Entry Office
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014
Office (858) 792-4207 • Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm

2026 LOCAL RULES

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.
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.
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.
Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
Exhibitors must be living at the time the online entry is submitted.
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.
If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging reports rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
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.
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.
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

Two (2) entries per exhibitor per class. Exhibitors may enter as many classes as desired.

Recipes may only be entered once.

Entry Fees

$10 per entry

Entry fees are payable online with a credit card and are not refundable.

Fair Tickets

Each exhibitor will receive two (2) Fair Entry Tickets.

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 (or Quick Group if entering for members of a club or guild and checking out with one cart).
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.)
A. In the Description field, provide appropriate information, including the technique, so that the work can be identified if the entry tag becomes unattached. For example, “Child’s wool sweater, knit, original pattern,” or “San Diego Padres Bobblehead Collection – 27 pieces.” Character limit is 100 including spaces.
B. In the Social Media field, please enter your preferred social media contact (optional).
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.
7. You will receive a confirmation email with a summary of your entry(ies).

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 and uploading images, 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 Delivery

Please see individual Division and Class requirements.

Ingredients List Requirement: An Ingredient List for each Liqueur entry is required to allow judges to avoid allergens during judging. The list must include every ingredient used to prepare the entry, including fillings, toppings, decorations, herbs, spices, and flavorings. Be specific. For example, enter “roasted, salted peanuts” rather than “peanuts” or “Dutch-processed cocoa powder” rather than “cocoa”.

This completed Ingredient List must be delivered with each Liqueur entry. In consideration of exhibitors with no printer, blank Ingredient List forms will be provided, and must be completed by exhibitors, at entry delivery.

Judging

The Decorated Foods and Liqueurs Competition uses the American system of judging.

Judging Process - Prior to judging, each Decorated Foods and Liqueurs entry will be evaluated for eligibility as described under each category. Once eligibility is confirmed, points will be awarded in accordance with the judging criteria outlined under each division.

Decorated Foods and Liqueurs entries will be disqualified for the following:

Hair, mold, or foreign object found on entries or in a sealed jar or container
Incorrect container or seal
Product considered unsafe to taste, if applicable

Decorated Foods entries will be judged on appearance, technique, and creativity, and will not be tasted.

Judging Results - Results will be posted on the San Diego County Fair’s website within five days after the entry delivery date for each competition and announced at the Culinary Awards Reception on the date shown in the Competition Timeline.

Entry Delivery & Pickup

Entries must be delivered to the Fairgrounds. Please refer to the Competition Timeline for in-person delivery dates. Exhibitors will be emailed delivery and pick up instructions including a map showing access to the Fairgrounds.

Home Arts & Hobbies will provide entry tags at entry delivery. Please allow time to attach entry tags to projects with materials and assistance provided by fair staff. Exhibitors will be responsible for attaching tag.

A claim check will be issued to each exhibitor upon entry delivery and must be presented at the time of entry pick up. If an exhibitor is unable to pick up their entry, they may arrange for another person to bring in their claim check with a signed written authorization from the exhibitor.

Decorated Food entries and Decorated Food containers may be picked up on the Decoated Food Pick Up date listed in the Culinary Competition Timeline.

Quick Group Delivery Appointments - If you registered as a Quick Group (families, clubs, guilds, organizations) and plan to deliver all entries in the group together, please CLICK HERE to request an appointment time on one of the in-person delivery dates listed in the Competition Timeline.

Awards

Award checks will be mailed within two (2) weeks of the last day of the Fair. Please submit address updates to the Entry Office in a timely manner.

Award-winning exhibitors will receive an invitation to our Culinary Awards Reception and free Fair admission for the day of the event.

The following will be awarded:

1^st Place in each class	$25 and Ribbon
2^nd Place in each class	$20 and Ribbon
3^rd Place in each class	$15 and Ribbon
An Honorable Mention may be awarded at judges' discretion	Ribbon
Best of Show - Chosen from 1st Place winners in each class	$100 and Rosette

Decorated Foods & Liqueurs Divisions and Classes

See Glossary for all definitions

ELIGIBILITY OF DECORATED FOODS ENTRIES:

Cake and cupcake entries must be made with Styrofoam forms. Prepared cakes and cupcakes are not allowed in any class.
Cookie entries must be firm shortbread, sugar cookies, gingerbread, or similar.
The maximum size for all entries is 18” wide x 12” deep x 18” high, including bases and props.
Entries must be stable and may be secured to a base if necessary.
Decorative elements and finishes must be edible (not necessarily homemade) and stable at room temperature.
Entries may include non-edible structural elements such as cake posts, skewers and separators that are hidden from view.

Division 150: Decorated Foods

JUDGING CRITERIA: Design (35%), Craftsmanship (35%), Difficulty (30%)

Class 001 Decorated Cakes. One (1) whole cake.

Class 002 Decorated Cupcakes. Six (6) themed or identical cupcakes.

Class 003 Decorated Cookies. Six (6) themed or identical cookies.

Class 004 Edible Sculpture. One (1) diorama, gingerbread house, sculpture, etc.

ELIGIBILITY OF LIQUEUR ENTRIES:
• Liqueur containers must be sterilized glass bottle or container with new screw-band caps, wire swing-top lids, or 2-piece canning lids. Containers may be decorative.
• Labels may be decorative but may not contain exhibitor identifying information such as name, brand or logo.

Ingredient List Requirement: This completed Ingredient List must be delivered with each Liqueur entry. In consideration of exhibitors with no printer, blank Ingredient List forms will be provided, and must be completed by exhibitors, at entry delivery.

Division 1512: Blended White Wine

JUDGING CRITERIA: Flavor/ Aroma (40%), Processing (40%), Presentation (20%)

Class 001 Fruit Liqueur

Class 002 Other Liqueur

Decorated Foods & Liqueurs