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If it’s a county fair, there are sure to be contests. The L.A. County Fair is no exception. In fact, in true county fair tradition, in Culinary Styles and Tapestry in Village on Broadway there’s a world of award-winning handcrafts on display. From apple pies to hand-made quilts, from pottery to jellies and jams, from Christmas-Tree decorating to hand-painted china, from quilting to cheesecakes, there are contests and competitions that showcase the creations of the most creative hands and minds. A variety of workshops let you try it yourself or watch the hundreds of demonstrations throughout Tapestry all day, every day.
Contestants in the Tablescaping competition, a Fair favorite, create a fantasyland of table settings representing four themes: Return of Romance, Motion Picture Perfect, Under the Sea and Say Cheese! Stop by to see – and borrow ideas from – the winning entries.
Make a difference. Share your talents while helping the less fortunate. Knit or crochet five or more seven-by-nine inch squares to contribute to the “Warm up America” project. Squares become afghans that are distributed by our volunteers to homeless shelters throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. The Fair donated 75 finished afghans in 2008. Deliver squares anytime during the Fair to the Tapestry concierge.
The L.A. County Fair supports Operation Lap Wrap, which provides handmade quilts to Wounded Warriors as they return home from serving abroad. Service members are sometimes flown home from hospitals gravely injured wearing just a hospital gown. The Lap Wrap is a symbol of warmth, security and caring. Stop by the USA Cares booth at the Fair Sept. 11 and 12 to sign your square in support of wounded military personnel.
The next stop in your home arts tour is the Culinary Styles Gourmet Kitchen, presented by Sparkletts, where you can watch the judging for more than 25 cooking contests. Here’s a small sampling of the cooking contest line-up:
• Lindsay Olive Lovers Salad Challenge, Saturday, Sept. 5, 1 p.m.
• Hidden Valley® Fresh Taste for the Family Recipe Contest, Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m.
• Best BBQ sauce contest, Sunday. Sept. 6, 12 p.m.
• Best BBQ contest, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2 p.m.
• Fleischmann’s® Yeast Bake for the Cure Contest-benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure- Sunday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m.
• Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship, Saturday, Sept. 19, 1 p.m.
• Great American SPAM® Championship, Thursday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m.
• Shelton’s Leftover Turkey Main Dish contest, Sunday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.
World-famous chef, George Geary, is at the stove, conjuring up delectable edibles before your eyes and judging entries in the live cooking contests, such as Live!, The Great American Breakfast, Live! Dessert Contest and Live! Cupcake Decorating Contest. Each year, the Culinary Styles cookbook is on sale during the Fair, featuring recipes from the previous Fair’s contest winners. Available at Culinary Styles guest services desk.
The L.A. County Fair opens Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 – 7 and then Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 9 – Oct. 4, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Live thoroughbred racing Sept. 10 – 28, dark Mondays Sept. 14, 21 and Tuesdays. For information on ways to save at the Fair, visit lacountyfair.com.
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