The San Diego County Fair is open through July 4. In the interest of public safety, activities involving direct animal interaction at the Fair have been suspended.

All guests are encouraged to wash their hands after any contact with animals or their living area, as well as prior to eating or drinking.

Student Showcase

The information below is from the 2019 Fair, and it will give you an idea of what to expect in 2020. Please check back soon!

Teachers, Highlight Your Students’ Work!

San Diego County schools are doing some amazing projects, and the San Diego County Fair wants to showcase your work! Student Showcase is the competitive exhibit where teachers in middle schools, high schools and community colleges enter their students’ work. (Elementary school teachers can enter their students’ work in the Best of PreK-6th Grade exhibit.) Entering projects gives schools and students exposure, credibility, awards, recognition, free Fair admission and more. This huge department includes:

Results are in!

Congratulations to everyone who won Best In Class and Best In Show awards in the 2019 Student Showcase exhibit. Results are posted in each section.

Drafting & Technology

Drafting divisions include hand-drawn and computer-aided drafting, and architectural models. General Technology divisions cover metal work, woodworking, automotive technology, and more. Science Technology projects include physical, biological, and environmental science, and robotics engineering.

More Info

Graphics & Literary Publications

Graphic communications divisions include such topics as posters, packaging, advertising, typography, computer graphics, digital painting and illustration, screen printing, and lithography. Literary publication divisions include student yearbooks, newspapers, and journals.

More Info

Web Design and Development & Video

Website divisions give awards for internet publishing in educational/informational, promotion/e-commerce, entertainment, and newspaper editions. Video divisions include documentary, music, news reporting, short films, sports, animation, and more.

More Info

Fine Art & Photography

Fine Art features two-dimensional and three-dimensional artwork in a wide variety of media. Photography divisions include photography prints, restoration, digital painting and illustration, photojournalism, and more.

More Info

Fashion Design

The couture designers of tomorrow will compete today with their original clothing. Divisions include design, illustration, textile design, costume design, design using unconventional materials, and more.

More Info

One-Day Contests

Students can enter many of our One-Day Contests. Please see the Contests section for a list of contests and their age requirements.

More Info

Tin Cup Coffee House

The Tin Cup Coffee House provides a platform for the spoken expression of original poetry, plays, etc. on select Fair dates.

More Info

Poetry Slam Contest (hidden)

Back for 2019 is our Poetry Slam! Teachers can enter their students for live readings of poetry, plays and other original written works. The contest is June 5; register by May 22.

More Info

Our Partners

Thanks to the following companies and associations:

San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association
California Graphic Arts Education Association
GoEngineer

Drafting & Technology

Teachers: Enter Your Students’ Drafting & Tech Projects

Drafting, science, engineering and technology instructors: Enter your students’ work to win ribbons and recognition in the San Diego County Fair Student Showcase competitive exhibit, in the Drafting, Science Technology, and General Technology divisions.

General Technology

This competition includes energy, power and transportation projects, metalworking, welding, woodworking and automotive technology. Teachers and students will find additional divisions of this type in the Industrial Arts exhibit.

Science Technology

This competition includes science and engineering group projects, and robotics engineering projects in fabricated, semi-autonomous and fully autonomous divisions.

Drafting

This competition includes technical illustration, architectural drawing, architectural models, technical drafting, and other design divisions.

The Fine Print (section hidden)

Got questions? Here is information about entering this exhibit.

What is eligible?

Student projects made in San Diego County schools, grades 7-12, community colleges, ROP programs and adult education classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Projects must have been finished during the 12-month period preceding the Fair.

For information regarding individual youth competition, see Creative Youth.

Teachers who would like to enter preschool through elementary school projects can find information in Best of PreK-6th Grade.

What is the entry fee?

The processing fee is $3 per entry. Group projects are $10 (two or more students). Processing fees are non-refundable.

Is there an entry limit?

Each student may enter up to four individual entries in all Student Showcase divisions combined. Students may in addition participate in group projects.

Why should teachers enter their students' work?

The Top 5 reasons why teachers should enter their students’ work in this exhibit:

  1. Tickets. Each student will receive one Fair admission ticket for each project entered. Teachers receive two Fair admission tickets. And if a teacher refers another teacher who has never entered Student Showcase, and that teacher registers his/her student projects, the referring teacher may receive an additional four admission tickets.
  2. Exposure and Fame. Entries are judged by local professionals. Students get to showcase their work to a large audience (Fair attendance each year is 1.5 million-plus). Friends and family get to see their star students’ work on display (and many of those displays will have some pretty cool ribbons hanging on them).
  3. Credibility and job possibilities. Teachers earn recognition for themselves and their schools, and students can enhance their resumes and get public exposure to people who might be potential employers (we’re talking about the judges and Fair guests who scout new talent, knowing they will see the cream of the crop all in one place).
  4. Awards. Student Showcase offers several levels of ribbon awards, including Best of Class, Best of Show, and donated awards from businesses and individual. Some awards are monetary!
  5. Scholarships. Any student who has participated in the Fair is eligible to apply for a Don Diego Scholarship. That program annually awards upwards of $65,000 in scholarships each year.

Need help?

Get in touch online or call us at (858) 792-4207.

2019 Results

Congratulations to those who won major awards in 2019.

Results – Drafting
Results – General Technology
Results – Science Technology

Entry Information

Entry deadline: Entries have closed for this competition.
Exhibit dates: May 31-July 4, 2019.
Results posted: On June 19, 2019.
Special Awards Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Pickup of exhibits: Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Showorks button (hidden)
Entry Information
General Technology
Science Technology
Drafting
Entry Tag Instructions (hidden)
Exhibit Labels (hidden)
State Rules
Local Rules

Web Design and Development & Video

Teachers: Enter Your Websites & Videos

Video production and website design/development instructors: Enter your students’ work to win ribbons and recognition in the San Diego County Fair Student Showcase competitive exhibit, Web Design and Development and Video divisions. (Website Design and Development was formerly known as New Media.)

Web Design and Development

This competition includes Internet publishing projects in educational/informational, promotional/e-commerce, entertainment and newspaper editions divisions.

Video

This competition includes documentaries, music videos, news/investigative reporting, public service announcements, commercials, short films, action sports, animation, and motion graphics.

Video students may want to enter our 24Hr Film Festival contest.

The Fine Print (section hidden)

Got questions? Here is more information about entering this exhibit.

What is eligible?

Student projects made in San Diego County schools, grades 7-12, community colleges, ROP programs and adult education classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Projects must have been finished during the 12-month period preceding the Fair.

For information regarding individual youth competition, see Creative Youth.

Teachers who would like to enter preschool through elementary school projects can find information in Best of PreK-6th Grade.

What is the entry fee?

The processing fee is $3 per entry. Group projects are $10 (two or more students). Processing fees are non-refundable.

Is there an entry limit?

Teachers may enter up to four individual entries per student in all Student Showcase divisions combined. In addition to the individual entries, students may participate in group projects.

Need help?

Get in touch online or call us at (858) 792-4207.

2019 Results

Congratulations to those who won major awards in 2019.

Results – Website Design and Development
Results – Video

Entry Information

Entry deadline: Entries are now closed for this competition.
Exhibit dates: May 31-July 4, 2019.
Results posted: On June 19, 2019.
Special Awards Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Pickup of exhibits: Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Showorks button (hidden)
Print Entry Tags (hidden)
Entry Tag Instructions (hidden)
Exhibit Labels (hidden)
Entry Information
Web Design and Development
Video
State Rules
Local Rules

Graphics & Literary Publications

Teachers: Enter Your Graphics Projects & Literary Publications

Graphic design, newspaper, yearbook, and literary publications instructors: Enter your work to win ribbons and recognition in the San Diego County Fair Student Showcase competitive exhibit, Graphic Communications and Literary Publications divisions.

Graphic Communications

This competition includes public service advertising, packaging, posters, portfolio, typography, two-page spreads for yearbooks and newspapers, computer graphics, screen printing, and offset lithography.

Literary Publications

This competition includes yearbooks, school newspapers, and school journals.

The Fine Print (section hidden)

Got questions? Here is more information about entering this exhibit.

What is eligible?

Student projects made in San Diego County schools, grades 7-12, community colleges, ROP programs and adult education classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Projects must have been finished during the 12-month period preceding the Fair.

For information regarding individual youth competition, see Creative Youth.

Teachers who would like to enter preschool through elementary school projects can find information in Best of PreK-6th Grade.

What is the entry fee?

The processing fee is $3 per entry. Group projects are $10 (two or more students). Processing fees are non-refundable.

Is there an entry limit?

Teachers may enter up to four individual entries per student in all Student Showcase divisions combined. In addition to the individual entries, students may participate in group projects.

Need help?

Get in touch online or call us at (858) 792-4207.

2019 Results

Congratulations to those who won major awards in 2019.

Results – Graphic Communications
Results – Literary Publications

Entry Information

Entry deadline: Entries are closed for this competition.
Exhibit dates: May 31-July 4, 2019.
Results posted: On June 19, 2019.
Special Awards Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Pickup of exhibits: Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Showorks button (hidden)
Entry Information
Graphic Communications
Literary Publications
State Rules
Local Rules
Entry Tag Instructions (hidden)
Exhibit Labels (hidden)

Fine Art & Photography

Teachers: Enter Your Students’ Art & Photos

Art and photography instructors: Enter your students’ work to win ribbons and recognition in the San Diego County Fair Student Showcase competitive exhibit, Fine Art and Photography divisions.

Fine Art

This competition includes 2-D artwork, 3D artwork and thematic art.

Photography

This competition includes photography, photojournalism, and creative photography divisions.

The Fine Print (section hidden)

Got questions? Here is more information about entering this exhibit.

What is eligible?

Student projects made in San Diego County schools, grades 7-12, community colleges, ROP programs and adult education classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Projects must have been finished during the 12-month period preceding the Fair.

For information regarding individual youth competition, see Creative Youth.

Teachers who would like to enter preschool through elementary school projects can find information in Best of PreK-6th Grade.

What is the entry fee?

The processing fee is $3 per entry. Group projects are $10 (two or more students). Processing fees are non-refundable.

Is there an entry limit?

Teachers may enter up to four individual entries per student in all Student Showcase divisions combined. In addition to the individual entries, students may participate in group projects.

Need help?

Get in touch online or call us at (858) 792-4207.

2019 Results

Congratulations to those who won major awards in 2019.

Results – Fine Art
Results – Photography

Entry Information

Entry deadline: Entries are closed for this competition.
Exhibit dates: May 31-July 4, 2019.
Results posted: On June 19, 2019.
Special Awards Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Pickup of exhibits: Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Print Entry Tags (hidden)
Entry Tag Instructions (hidden)
Exhibit Labels (hidden)
Entry Information
Fine Art
Photography
State Rules
Local Rules

Fashion Design

Teachers: Enter Your Students’ Fashion Designs

Instructors: Enter your students’ work to win ribbons and recognition in the San Diego County Fair Student Showcase competitive exhibit, Fashion Design division.

Fashion Design

This competition includes fashion design, fashion illustration, textile design, theatrical/costume design, unconventional materials fashion design, Fair theme fashion design, and group fashion presentation and marketing.

Fashion Show

Fashion design students show off their creations in the Fashion Show. See the event page for details.

The Fine Print (section hidden)

Got questions? Here is more information about entering this exhibit.

What is eligible?

Student projects made in San Diego County schools, grades 7-12, community colleges, ROP programs and adult education classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Projects must have been finished during the 12-month period preceding the Fair.

For information regarding individual youth competition, see Creative Youth.

Teachers who would like to enter preschool through elementary school projects can find information in Best of PreK-6th Grade.

What is the entry fee?

The processing fee is $3 per entry. Group projects are $10 (two or more students). Processing fees are non-refundable.

Is there an entry limit?

Teachers may enter up to four individual entries per student in all Student Showcase divisions combined. In addition to the individual entries, students may participate in group projects.

Need help?

Get in touch online or call us at (858) 792-4207.

2019 Results

Congratulations to those who won major awards in 2019.

Results – Fashion Design

Entry Information

Entry deadline: Entries are closed for this competition.
Exhibit dates: May 31-July 4, 2019.
Results posted: On June 19, 2019.
Special Awards Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2019.
Pickup of exhibits: Saturday, July 6, 2019.

Showorks button (hidden)
Entry Information
Fashion Design
Entry Tag Instructions (hidden)
Exhibit Labels (hidden)
State Rules
Local Rules

Join Our Mailing List

Join Our Mailing List

We’re the San Diego County Fair and we send fun emails.
If you sign up for our email list, we pinky swear that we’ll only send you the good stuff. (must be at least 13 years old)

We’re the San Diego County Fair and we send fun emails.
If you sign up for our email list, we pinky swear that we’ll only send you the good stuff. (must be at least 13 years old)