Competitive Exhibits
Have a creative side? Fairs provide a unique venue for Californians of all ages to compete in a variety of categories, often for cash prizes! Showcase your talent at your local fair in categories like fine arts, photography, clothing and textiles, jewelry, baked or preserved foods, quilts, woodworking, and many more - even homemade wine and beer.
Do you love gardening? Consider entering one of your local fair's horticulture or floriculture competitions. From tomatoes to begonias, fairs award cash prizes for the best fruits, vegetables and flowers. In addition, fairs also offer unique exhibit categories like bonsai, dried flowers, succulents, and arrangements. Your green thumb might earn you a blue ribbon!
Each fair offers a unique assortment of exhibit categories. Contact your local fair for complete entry rules and information. Most fairs' exhibitor catalogs are available online. To find a fair near you, click on the listing of fairs.
![From quilts, to jams, to vegetables - there's an exhibit category for everyone! Lake County Fair, Lakeport](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits1.jpg)
![A masterpiece in wood. San Diego County Fair, Del Mar](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits2.jpg)
![A prize-winning pumpkin. Yolo County Fair, Woodland.](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits3.jpg)
![Local artistic talent on display. Marin County Fair, San Rafael](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits4.jpg)
![A colorful quilt. Sonoma-Marin Fair, Petaluma](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits5.jpg)
![A beautiful display of dahlias. Santa Cruz County Fair, Watsonville](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits6.jpg)
![A tower of homemade jams, jellies, and sauces. Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits7.jpg)
![Fair even offer unique exhibit categories like bonsai. Marin County Fair & Exposition, San Rafael](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits8.jpg)
![Home grown fruits and vegetables. Big Fresno Fair, Fresno](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits9.jpg)
![Spectacular cakes. San Diego County Fair, Del Mar](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits10.jpg)
![A unique and creative quilt. Stanislaus County Fair, Turlock](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits11.jpg)
![A stunning display of fuscias. Del Norte County Fair, Crescent City](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits12.jpg)
![A colorful display of locally grown produce. Lake County Fair, Lakeport](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits13.jpg)
![An interesting display of cactus and succulents. The Valley Fair, Sherman Oaks](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits14.jpg)
![Fairgoers enjoy a colorful display of the county's bountiful harvest. Big Fresno Fair, Fresno](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits15.jpg)
![A beautiful floral arrangement. San Diego County Fair, Del Mar](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits16.jpg)
![Fairgoers enjoying the exhibits. Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa](https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/FairsAndExpositions/images/cafairs/exhibits17.jpg)