Let’s be honest. There is a reverse relationship to being inspired to enter your famous chocolate chip cookies and actually getting these delicious baked goods in front of a judge. The idea to be an exhibitor generally occurs in the moment, standing in front of the baked good case, staring at the prize winning entry. It will be months before the opportunity presents itself again and more than likely the grand idea has fled your memory banks.
Here is your annual reminder to kick you into gear and join the fun of being part of the Fair, not just a spectator. Sharing the steps to enter the Contra Costa County Fair, while offering some pointers for success, the goal is to get that on-line entry submitted and the prizes headed your way.
Fairs are unique from festivals for the pure reason they offer competitions. But competitions only succeed if there are willing participants. Staff spends countless hours determining the best contests that will attract the most entries. If this is your first time participating, lets break down the program. There will be classes for both Adults and Youth, make sure you enter in the correct department. I strongly encourage you to go the website and read over the Exhibitor Handbook. This will be where you can see all the items that can be judged, from baked goods to photography, from arts and crafts to theme related competitions.
Steps To Follow
The 2025 Contra Costa Fair theme is “Lets Go Country” and after a quick review of the competitions, these steps will feature Adult Home Arts, Special Contests – Division 158 Decorated Cowboy Hat “Lets Go Country” page 9 in the Exhibitor Handbook.
1 – Before you enter in any competition be sure to read the rules. Generally speaking they can be found in the front of the book or in the front of the department. For this competition focus on the rules found at the beginning of the Adult Home Arts section page 5.
2 – Entry Fees and Premiums Paid – If you are new to this language, entry fee is the cost associated with entering the competition and premiums paid are prize monies earned for placing. Our hat entry will require a $5 entry fee and is eligible to win $25 for first place.
3 – American System of Judging vs Danish System of Judging – American System of Judging awards one first, second, third and so forth in a class. All the entries are judged together. Danish System of Judging allows each entry to be judged against a set of standards. This enables for multiple first, seconds and third places. Danish Systems are generally applied to youth competitions.
4 – The actual submitting your entry is done through an on-line system. For our hat project click here to get to the ShoWorks site. Create an account and discover all the items you can showcase at the Contra Costa Fair. If you get stuck, have questions, contact the Fair Office 925.757.4400.
5 – The final step is bringing your enter to the Fair and submitting for judging. This information is found in the rules section discussed earlier. Theme hats can be delivered to the fairgrounds Friday May 2nd, 3pm to 8pm & Saturday May 3rd, 9am to 2pm in Building 1. Look for signage to help navigate to the proper location.
The thrill of seeing your work on display will heighten your annual experience. And don’t be surprised when your friends and family connect sharing they saw your entry. Participating in the annual fair will create life long memories and create long lasting family traditions. Good luck and “Lets Go Country”.
Thinking Fair 