Creative Texans, it’s time to shine – the 2022 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts Handbook is now available online and registration is open for the 2022 contests. A staple at the Fair every year, the Creative Arts department holds pre-Fair arts and crafts contests, awarding the best of the best creative projects from around the state. With more than 1,000 categories, there is a contest for everyone – including youth participants. Whether you’re an ace with a camera for our photography category, handy with a needle for our needlepoint, crewel, and counted cross-stitch category, or canning royalty, the State Fair’s arts and crafts contests have something for everyone.
With more than 1,000 categories in 14 different departments of pre-Fair contests, as well as daily competitions taking place during the Fair, amateurs and professionals of all ages have endless opportunities to showcase their creative talents. Contest departments include Fine Art; Ceramics and Hand-Painted China; Designer Craftsman; Dolls; Canning; Hobby Collections; Holiday Corner; Needlepoint, Crewel, and Counted Cross Stitch; Needlework and Sewing; Afghans, Rugs, Quilts, and Bedspreads; Photography; Scale Models; Glue-a-Shoe; and The Great Pumpkin Challenge. Registration for the 2022 pre-Fair contests is now open online, with a deadline of Monday, July 25 to submit online entry forms and fees. Contestants can submit their entries via mail by July 25 or hand-deliver items to the Creative Arts building in Fair Park on August 5, 6, and 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In the weeks following, entries will be judged, and contestants will be notified once the results are finalized. Entries that are awarded a ribbon will be on display during the 2022 State Fair of Texas.
New this year, the State Fair of Texas and Lucchese have teamed up to offer three new contests, all centered around the iconic boots of our 55-foot-tall cowboy, Big Tex. Folks can dust off a photo of the icon’s boots for inclusion in the Photography contest or create a work of art for the Fine Art contest (both adult and junior). Blue-ribbon winners in each category will receive a special swag bag from Lucchese, a Big Tex bobblehead, and four season passes to the 2022 State Fair of Texas.
For the third year, Creative Arts will utilize an online registration system. The registration portal allows for the creation of a family account, which allows adults in the household to create additional contestants on the account and register any youth contestants. Youth contestants will have their own designated entries for the Creative Arts competitions, but all communications regarding those entries are sent to the primary adult on the account. Although there are paper registration forms in the Creative Arts Handbook that can be mailed to the Fair, it is recommended to use the online registration portal to ensure contestants receive helpful reminders about the Creative Arts Contests and judging results.
For the complete details on the arts and crafts contests, download the 2022 Creative Arts Handbook at BigTex.com/CreativeArts. To keep up with all things Creative Arts, including the cooking contests announcement later this summer, sign up for the Creative Arts newsletter. With different age groups and a variety of contests to choose from, the whole family can spend time together crafting. Register now to showcase your creative skills and start planning your trip to visit the Creative Arts building during the 2022 State Fair of Texas, opening Friday, September 30 and running through Sunday, October 23.