Calling all amateur bakers, creatives! The Fair wants you!

By Taylor Pulfer

Texans, it is time to showcase local talent and creativity. The 2025 State Fair of Texas Arts & Crafts and Cooking Contest Guides are now available for download at BigTex.com/CreativeArts. 

A time-honored tradition since the Fair began more than 130 years ago, the State Fair’s Creative Arts team holds pre-Fair arts and crafts contests and Fair-time cooking contests each year, awarding the best of the best. With more than 1,100 arts and crafts categories and 26 cooking contests, there is something for every Texan, including opportunities for children.  

With more than 1,100 categories in 14 different pre-Fair contests, amateurs and professionals of all ages are presented with endless opportunities to have their innovative entries under the spotlight. Entries awarded a ribbon will be displayed during the 2025 State Fair of Texas.  

 And that’s not all — the State Fair of Texas is thrilled to announce the return of Battle for the Blue Ribbons — the one and only State Fair spring cooking competition — consisting of three of the Fair’s most popular Creative Arts Cooking Contests: Cookies, Cake, and Pies, running from May 16 to May 18. Amateur home cooks of all ages may enter for the chance to be awarded first, second, third and honorable mention. All 40 blue-ribbon winners will be invited to compete in their respective contests at the exclusive Best of Show-Down in the Competition Kitchen during the 2025 State Fair of Texas on October 5. 

One contestant from each of the three contests will be awarded a Best of Show ribbon, allowing them to advance to a head-to-head battle for the Best of Show-Down grand prize! For more information about this specific competition and to register, please visit BigTex.com/Battle.

For complete details on all Creative Arts competitions, download the 2025 State Fair of Texas Arts & Crafts and Cooking Contest Guides now at BigTex.com/CreativeArts. In addition, sign up for the Creative Arts newsletter to keep up with all things Creative Arts. 

With various contests to choose from, the whole family can spend time together crafting and whipping up delectable treats. Get ready to register creative entries on May 7 and start planning a trip to visit the Creative Arts building at the Most Texan Place on Earth during the 2025 State Fair of Texas, opening Friday, September 26 and running through Sunday, October 19.