home arts & hobbies

DECORATIVE ARTS

• Jewelry and Beading
• Basketry and Gourds
• Decorative Painting
• Paper Crafts
• Polymer Clay
• Handmade Dolls, Stuffed Animals and Toys
• Holiday Crafts
• Ceramics and Mosaics
• Wood, including CNC designs, laser cutting, and engraving
• Upcycled and repurposed materials
• Special needs crafts

Competition Timeline

Eligibility

• Adult Divisions are open to all adults aged 18 years old by the Entry Deadline listed above.
• Entries must be original work of the exhibitor and completed in the last two (2) years.
• Work by two (2) or more artists is not eligible.
• Work, or nearly identical work, previously shown at the Fair, regardless of title, is not eligible.
• Work created by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), either partially or completely, is not eligible.

CONTACT US

Elena Liu, Coordinator

2025 LOCAL RULES

1. Completion of online entry registration shall be deemed acceptance of all rules. Acceptance includes permission to use your name, photograph, and exhibit for the news media.
2. Online registration is required in all departments and for one-day contests. Online entries are accepted until 8:00pm (Pacific Time) on the deadline day for online entry registration, unless otherwise stated.
3. Once registered, the description, title, and price may not be changed. Substitutions will not be allowed. Fair Management is not responsible for errors on entry forms which may lead to elimination or disqualification of an entry.
4. Processing fees must be paid online at the time of registration. Processing fees are non-refundable.
5. Exhibitors must be living at the time the entry form and/or online entry is submitted.
6. All non-livestock entries must be the creative work of the exhibitor (whose name appears on the entry registration), be in good taste, and suitable for family viewing. Fair Management reserves the right to disqualify any entry/exhibit it deems objectionable or not in accordance with competition standards.
7. If an entry is disqualified after judging is complete, no changes will be made to the status of awards given for other entries.
8. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining necessary permission from models and/or to use material in their entry that is considered copyrighted.
9. No entry will be accepted should the exhibitor describe the conditions under which he/she will exhibit, or the exhibit will be displayed.
10. Judges are qualified in the medium(s) they are judging. New judges may be chosen each year, and judges may be assigned to different divisions/classes from year to year.
11. If a coordinator or judge deems an entry to be in the incorrect category, division, class, etc., he or she may direct the Entry Office to move that entry as appropriate. The Entry Office may combine divisions or classes to create an adequate judging pool.
12. Fair Management reserves the right to limit entries, and display thereof, to facilities available and to cancel any division or class in which, in its judgment, the entries are insufficient to secure adequate competition.
13. Entries must be delivered on the date(s) and times specified. Entries will not be accepted before or after the stated entry delivery date. All accepted exhibits must remain on display and shall not be removed until the stated entry pick up date. Any exhibit not picked up on the specified date becomes the property of the San Diego County Fair and will be disposed of promptly.
14. All exhibits are entered and shown at the owner’s risk. Reasonable care will be taken to prevent loss or damage to exhibits, but in no event will the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur or for the actions of third parties. Insurance, if desired, should be obtained by the exhibitor at his/her own expense.
15. Any person who violates any Local, State, or Department rule or displays unethical conduct will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) may order.
16. To ensure reliable award notification, exhibitors are responsible for submitting all address, phone number and email address updates promptly in writing to entry@sdfair.com or Entry Department, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar, CA 92014.
17. Premium money will be paid per the recorded placings in the official judging books rather than the ribbon attached to the exhibit.
18. Donated Award recipients will be selected per the instructions given on the Donated Award Confirmation Form submitted by the donor.
19. Premium, donated cash award, and auction checks will be made payable to the exhibitor as listed on the online entry registration. Checks will be mailed within 30 days after the close of the Fair to the address shown on the online entry registration, or as updated by the exhibitor via written notification to the Entry Office. Auction checks may be held longer if the buyer has not paid. Checks not cashed within 6 months from the date of issue will be forfeited. Replacement checks may be subject to a $35 stop payment fee.
20. The 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) is required by the Internal Revenue Service to report any premiums paid totaling the amount of $600 or more. Exhibitors may be required to submit a W-9 form.
21. The 22nd District Agricultural Association management reserves the right to amend or add to these rules; the 22nd District Agricultural Association (San Diego County Fair) assumes no liability or responsibility not herein expressed.

California State Rules apply and are available here.

Entry Limit

Two (2) entries per exhibitor per class. Exhibitors may enter as many classes as desired.

Entry Fees

• Adult divisions: $10 per entry
• Youth divisions: $5 per entry

Entry fees are payable online with a credit card and are not refundable.

Fair Tickets

Each exhibitor will receive two (2) Exhibitor Access Passes.

How to Enter

• After reading all entry materials, click the “Enter Now” link below to go to the ShoWorks Entry Homepage.
• Register as an Exhibitor (or Quick Group if entering for members of a club or guild).
• Select the appropriate division and class and input the required information. (See “Divisions and Classes” below for a list of all divisions and classes.) In the Description field, provide appropriate information, including the technique, so that the work can be identified if the entry tag becomes unattached. For example, “Child’s wool sweater, knit, original pattern,” or “San Diego Padres Bobblehead Collection – 27 pieces.” Character limit is 100 including spaces.
• Review your entry before completing registration to ensure that you have entered the correct division and class for each entry.
• Click the check-out button and pay for all entries.
• Read the confirmation statement and type YES. Do not click multiple times, as it will charge you each time.
• You will receive a confirmation email with a summary of your entry(ies).

If you plan to make changes to your entries or need to leave ShoWorks at any time, SAVE YOUR CART before exiting out.

For additional help with entering and uploading images, review this detailed step-by-step guide: Entry Tutorial

Still have questions?
Please call or email the Entry Office.
Phone: (858) 792-4207, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm

How to Prepare Your Entry for Delivery

Please see individual categories, divisions, and classes for specific entry requirements.

• Fabrics must be clean, reasonably odor-free, and free of pet hair and dander.
• Framed work must be able to stand on its own or be ready to hang with wire.
• Pillows and pillowcases must be finished and have forms inside.
• Wall Hangings, wreaths, and macramé must include a secure means for hanging. Exhibitors may provide a stand that will be returned at entry pick-up.
• Delivery bags, boxes and containers may be used for delivery but will not be saved in the exhibit. Exhibitors should take them away after delivery.

Judging

The Home Arts & Hobbies competition uses the American system of judging for Adult Divisions.

Judging Results
Results will be announced at the Home Arts & Hobbies Open House and posted on the San Diego County Fair’s website by the second week of the fair.

Entry Delivery & Pickup

Entries must be delivered to the Fairgrounds. Please refer to the Exhibition Timeline for in-person delivery dates. Exhibitors will be emailed delivery and pick up instructions including a map showing access to the Fairgrounds.

Home Arts & Hobbies will provide entry tags at entry delivery. Please allow time to attach entry tags to projects with materials and assistance provided by fair staff. Exhibitors will be responsible for attaching tag.

A claim check will be issued to each exhibitor upon entry delivery and must be presented at the time of entry pick up. If an exhibitor is unable to pick up their artwork, they may arrange for another person to bring in their claim check with a signed written authorization from the exhibitor.

Quick Group Delivery Appointments - If you registered as a Quick Group (clubs, guilds, organizations) and plan to deliver all entries in the group together, please CLICK HERE to request an appointment time on one of the in-person delivery dates.

Awards

Award checks will be available at entry pick up. Checks not picked up will be mailed within 30 days.

Adult Divisions

Special Awards

ADULT DECORATIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS

See Glossary for all definitions

Division 112: Jewelry and Beading

All entries must be original designs—no kits. Jewelry may be assembled, and gemstones, chains, charms, beads, and notions do not need to be fabricated by the exhibitor (See Gems, Minerals, and Jewelry for fabricated jewelry divisions.) Entries may include beading, wire wrapping, wire crochet, leather, fibers, gemstones, charms, 3D printed items, etc.

Class 001 Show Stopper - A single jewelry piece with a "WOW" factor
Class 002 It's a Match - Matching set of two (2) or more jewelry items
Class 003 Fair Theme “Summer Pet-tacular”
Class 004 Other Jewelry or Beading Item

Division 113: Basketry and Gourds

Class 001 Basket
Class 002 Gourd, painted
Class 003 Gourd, wood-burned or carved
Class 004 Gourd, decorative technique other than listed
Class 005 Fair Theme “Summer Pet-tacular”

Division 114: Decorative Painting and Applications

Folk Art, Tole Painting, Rosemaling, and China Painting to include painting or brushwork on a variety of items such as furniture, porcelain, glassware, tinware, small household items, or other decorative pieces.

Class 001 Natural Designs, such as floral and leaf patterns
Class 002 Geometric Designs
Class 003 Portraits
Class 004 Holiday Designs
Class 005 Goldwork and Raised Paste
Class 006 Fair Themed “Summer Pet-tacular” Designs
Class 007 Other Decorative Application or Design

Division 115: Crafts

Class 001 Paper Crafts
Class 002 Polymer Clay (Enter polymer clay jewelry in Division 112: Jewelry and Beading)
Class 003 Handmade Dolls, Stuffed Animals and Toys (non-crocheted)
Class 004 Holiday Crafts
Class 005 Ceramics and Mosaics
Class 006 Wood, including CNC designs, laser cutting, and engraving
Class 007 Upcycled and repurposed materials
Class 008 Special needs crafts. May be any craft item.
Class 009 Fair Theme “Summer Pet-tacular”
Class 010 Other than listed. Specify item and technique.