Contests

Our contests are designed to showcase the agricultural, culinary, and artistic talents of the D.C. community. Check out the 2024 lineup of contests below. Stay tuned for the 2024 DC State Fair Contest Guide and the link to register, which will both be posted to this page.

Agricultural Contests

  • Best Compost*

  • Best Egg (Chicken)*

  • Best Flower Arranging*

  • Best Garden Haul*

  • Best Honey*

  • Tomato Contests

    • Best Red Tomato

    • Best Non-Red Tomato

    • Best Heirloom Tomato

  • Vegetable/Fruit Contests

    • Funkiest Looking Vegetable/Fruit

    • Heaviest Vegetable/Fruit

Artistic Contests

  • Best Ceramic*

  • District-Themed Art Contests

    • Best District Drawing

    • Best District Painting

    • Best District Tattoo

  • Fabric, Textiles & Fiber Arts Contests

    • Best Crochet

    • Best Embroidery

    • Best Knitting

    • Best Quilt

    • Best Needlepoint

  • Best Kids' Drawing*

  • Best Kids' Painting*

  • Best Kids' Slime*

  • Best Nail Art

  • Photography Contests

    • Best Black and White Photo

    • Best DC-Themed Photo

    • Best Photo of People/Portraits

    • Best Photo of a Pet/Animal

  • Best DC-Inspired Poem*

Culinary Contests

  • Best Biscuit*

  • Bread Contests

    • Best Sourdough

    • Best Cornbread

    • Best Focaccia

  • Cake Contests

    • Best Chocolate Cake*

    • Best Non Chocolate Cake*

    • Best Vegan Cake

    • Best Gluten Free Cake

  • Best Meat Chili*

  • Best Vegetarian or Vegan Chili*

  • Cider Contests

    • Best Sweet Cider

    • Best Dry Cider

  • Cookie Contests

    • Best Cookie*

    • Best Vegan Cookie

    • Best Gluten Free Cookie

  • Homebrew Contests

    • Best Hoppy Beer

    • Best Malty Beer

    • Best Roasty Beer

    • Best Fruity Beer

  • Best Jam/Jelly/Chutney*

  • Best Jollof Rice

  • Mac and Cheese Contests

    • Best Dairy Mac and Cheese

    • Best Vegan Mac and Cheese

  • Pickled Foods Contests

    • Best Cucumber Pickle

    • Best Pickle (Non-Cucumber)

  • Pie Contests

    • Best Pie in Show

    • Best Apple Pie*

    • Best Fruit Non-Apple Pie*

    • Best Sweet Non-Fruit Pie*

    • Pie Eating*

  • Sauce/Salsa Contests

    • Best BBQ Sauce

    • Best Hot Sauce

    • Best Mumbo Sauce

    • Best Salsa

*All contests will award a 1st place (blue ribbon) winner. Select contests, those noted with an asterisk (*), will award 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.

Pie sampling during contest day for the 2023 DC State Fair.

Blue ribbon winner from the 2022 DC State Fair.