The time is fast approaching when the 78th annual North Georgia State Fair will be accepting entries for the non-commercial exhibit competitions, which feature canning and arts and crafts. Area residents are encouraged to enter their masterpieces in categories
such as homemade canned goods, photography, painting, woodcarving, basketry, needlework and more in the competition.
Non-perishable exhibits can be submitted from 12 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 and Sunday, Sept. 19 from 12 to 6 p.m. Baked goods must be submitted from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22.
Judging for the non-perishable adult exhibits and youth exhibits will be Monday, Sept. 20, at 10 a.m. The baked goods judging will take place on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 10a.m.
Besides earning ribbons, winners will collect premiums in the amount of $2 to $4 for youth and $3 to $5 for adults. Quilt winners can earn cash prizes in each category of quilt sizes: miniature, small, medium and large.
Kids, ages 18 and under, can enter in the following categories:
- Food: junior youth food preservations, senior youth food preservations, beginner youth foods, junior youth foods and senior youth foods.
- Crafts: beginner youth crafts, special population beginner youth crafts, junior youth crafts, special population junior youth crafts, senior youth crafts and special population senior youth crafts. Ages 12 to 17 can enter the youth division of creative arts, as well.
- Photography: beginner youth picture gallery, special population beginner youth picture gallery, junior youth picture gallery, special population junior youth picture gallery, senior youth picture gallery and special population senior youth picture gallery and youth photography.
- There are also junior youth sewing and senior youth sewing categories.
Adults can enter in the following categories:
- Needlework, sewing, and handicrafts, which include jewelry, toys and woodworking.
- Creative arts such as basketry, an expanded photography division, oil painting, watercolors and other media as well as ceramics, woodcarving and sculpture are displayed along with food products in the agriculture/horticulture area.
- Food preservation, canning, drying and preserving vie for honors along with baked goods by entrants of all ages.
- The popular Christmas corner continues to grow, and an expanded quilting division promises added incentives for quilters.
Two Standard Flower Shows, with an overall theme of “Music of Our Lives”
The Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Cobb County Fair Association will present two standard flower shows at the 2010 North Georgia State Fair.
The first show will be from Sept. 23 to 28, with the second running from Sept. 28 to Oct. 3. This year’s overall flower show theme is “Music of Our Lives”. Entries are open to the public.
“We encourage everyone to enter their flowers, fruits and vegetables this year. Come on out and show off your prized horticulture specimens and win a blue ‘first place’ ribbon. If you are interested in entering a design, check out the schedule and contact the design consultant and entries chair,” said Holly Walquist, chairperson of the flower shows and board member of the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. and the Cobb County Fair Association.
Exhibit Hall A on the fairgrounds will be filled with the sights and smells of colorful, fragrant flower displays designed to help you see blooms of the south in a different medium. The categories of competition include roses, dahlias, orchids, cactuses, lilies, irises, begonias, zinnias, marigolds, asters, impatiens, daisies, herbs, shrubs, trees, vines, chrysanthemums, hanging plants, fruit plants and more; as well as design categories.
Instead of a single bloom or plant, the design categories encourage creativity in designing displays with natural and floral ingredients. Design exhibits need to be reserved by calling Vy Shinn at (770) 919-9345. Vegetable entries are also accepted at
both flower shows. Educational exhibits are also welcome. Call Phyllis Goff at (770) 971-4822 to make a reservation. Participants in the single specimen or container categories just need to get their entries in by the proper time. Holly Walquist advises participants to make sure their prized specimens are free of flaws and signs of insects.
The flower shows draw competitors and nationally accredited judges from throughout metro Atlanta. Entries for the first flower show will be accepted from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23. Second show entries
will be accepted from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 28, and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 29. The first show entries will be judged on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 12:30 p.m. and the second flower show will be judged on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 12:30 p.m.
The competition is open to gardeners of all ages, and children are encouraged to enter. The flower show rules and entry categories are listed on the North Georgia State Fair website at www.northgeorgiastatefair.com.
To visit the North Georgia State Fair, take Interstate 75 North to Exit 260 (Windy Hill Road) and go west. Go approximately five miles until Windy Hill Road dead ends and turn left on Austell Road. Turn right on Callaway Road. Jim R. Miller Park is on the right.
For information, call (770) 423-1330 or after September 6, (770) 528-8989 and visit www.northgeorgiastatefair.com or call Marilyn Ellis at 770-436-8514 for the noncommercial exhibits or Holly Walquist at 770-424-4664 for the flower shows.
Keep Cobb Beautiful is teaming up with Keep Marietta Beautiful to offer a free document shredding day. The event takes place from 9am to noon on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Each vehicle can bring up to 100 lbs of paper and it will be securely shredded for free. Please note that no plastic, electronics, metal, or cardboard will be accepted.
