Bring it on! State Fair’s Creative Arts unveils new contests, bigger prizes

It’s the place synonymous with fairs everywhere: Creative Arts is where to find ribbon- winners in more than 1,100 categories, including canning, quilts, photography and crafts, while contest kitchens stay busy with daily competitions and cooking demonstrations. The 2006 State Fair of Texas runs from Friday, Sept. 29 – Sunday, Oct. 22.

The new Competition Handbooks are in and are available by mail for $5, and an online version is available here. What’s new this year? For starters, more contests and more prize money. BOBOLI® Pizza Crusts joins in the fun with a new contest on Oct. 5, while the culinary crowd ages 7 to 17 is encouraged to enter the first-ever SPAM™ Kid Chef Contest, Sept. 30. Burleson’s™ Honey asks entrants to “Be Healthy, Be Natural, Be Real” in its competition on Oct. 11. The final day of the Fair, Oct. 22, a cook-off promoting the health benefits and consumer awareness of Texas-grown pecans promises top dollar for Best of Show. The Texas Pecan Board is offering generous prize money, including a $1,000 award for best recipe and $500 for First Place.

The State Fair of Texas is well-regarded on the contest circuit. Not only do high-profile companies sponsor these events, some contestants go on to win even bigger prizes and more publicity. Don’t forget that Cathy Hamm of Dallas advanced to the next level and captured Hormel Foods’ top prize in the National Best SPAM™ Recipe Contest after winning first place here in 2005.

To order a Creative Arts Handbook, send a $5 check or money order made payable to the State Fair of Texas

The mailing address is :
State Fair of Texas Creative Arts
P. O. Box 150009
Dallas, Texas 75315

Registration forms are the blue pages in the back of the book. This same information will is available here and can be downloaded. Deadline for registration forms and entry fees is Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006. Instructions and information on delivery of entries can be found in the rules book and on the Web site.

A State Fair parking lot becomes “Chili Cook-off Central” on Oct. 1.

Many contests, such as the Rib and Chili Cook-off on Oct. 1, are held during the Fair and are listed on the Competition Calendar. There is no pre-registration for these contests.

Contact: Public Relations, 214-421-8715 or pr@bigtex.com.