CREATIVE ACTIVITIES

The Creative Activities Department of the Minnesota State Fair presents an annual exhibition of the finest needlework, handcrafts, baking and canning that Minnesota has to offer. Participation is limited to Minnesota residents. In 2009, over 2100 participants exhibited over 7303 items (over 2800 in baking and special contests alone).

GENERAL INFORMATION AND RULES FOR ENTRY: The Creative Activities premium book is available annually for download in early May. Or, if you prefer to receive a copy by mail, contact the Competition Office at (651) 288-4417 and request to be placed on the Creative Activities mailing list. Exhibitors who have entered within the past two years are already included on that list.

IMPORTANT: BAKED PRODUCTS AND CANNED AND PRESERVED FOOD ENTRIES WILL NOT BE RECEIVED IF NOT PRE-REGISTERED.

In the Canned & Preserved Foods categories, only USDA approved methods of food preservation (pressure canning or hot water bath) are accepted. You may view the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning at:

http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/canningguide.html

DOWNLOADABLES: The Premium Book can be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5 or higher. If you do not have Acrobat Reader or have an older version you may download the most current Acrobat Reader by clicking on the "Acrobat Reader" icon.

If you are interested in entering in MORE THAN ONE division in Creative Activities, you will want to download the entire book. Check back in early May.

Creative Activities Premium Book

If you are interested in only entering in ONE division in Creative Activities, for your convenience, we have split the book into divisions:

Needlecraft (Linens, Quilts, Rugs, Crocheted and Knitted Articles)
Garment Making
Handcrafts (Wood, Models, Metal, Weaving, Free Hand Painting, Decorative Crafts, Dolls & Soft Toys)
Collections & Taxidermy (Stamp Collections, Postcard Frames, Creative Collections, Taxidermy & Scrapbooking)
Work of Senior Citizens
Baked Products & Special Contests
Canned and Preserved Foods
Minnesota Homebrewing Contest Information

Please be sure to PRINT AND READ the rules in the premium book before beginning on-line registration as it includes pertinent information for you to attach to your entry.

On-line registration will be LIVE May 1.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Until the premium book is posted, please consider the dates and times below to be tentative.

INITIAL MAILING: Sent via bulk mail mid-June.

ON-LINE REGISTRATION: Begins May 1 and closes August 10 at 4:30 p.m. By entering on-line your entry tags and forms will be completed and ready for you when you deliver your articles.

PRE-REGISTRATION is required for baked products and canned and preserved foods categories and must be completed on-line or postmarked by 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 10.

IMPORTANT: BAKED PRODUCTS AND CANNED AND PRESERVED FOOD ENTRIES WILL NOT BE RECEIVED IF NOT PRE-REGISTERED.

DELIVERY OF ARTICLES:

Baked Goods entries only: Sunday, August 22, 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Special Contests: See the individual contest rules for delivery date. (Note if delivery falls during the fair dates, admission onto the fairgrounds is the responsibility of the exhibitor.)

Needlecraft*, Garment Making, Work of Senior Citizens, Canned & Preserved Foods, Handcrafts, and Collections and Taxidermy entries:

Sunday, August 15, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday, August 16, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, August 17, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday, August 18, 9 am - noon
(*Exception: quilts and rugs entered in County Sweepstakes Contests will be received until noon, Friday, August 20)

RETURN OF ARTICLES:

Wednesday, September 8, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. (No articles will be returned before 1 p.m.)
Thursday, September 9, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For further information, please e-mail us or call us directly at (651) 288-4417.