This could be the year you decide to participate in the Fair’s Creative Living Department. And why not?

One of the coolest aspects of the Oregon State Fair—the blending of the traditional with the cutting edge—happens in the Creative Living Department. That’s where you’ll discover displays, exhibits, demonstrations, and competitions that cover the full spectrum of life in Oregon. The Creative Living team’s constant goal is to strike a balance between tradition and innovation…all for the benefit of Oregonians.

This department of the Oregon State Fair features many of those classic competitions we all know so well. But these days there is equal emphasis on new and truly engaging topics, each of which reflect life in Oregon. We constantly strive for a balance between traditions and innovations.

There’s plenty of supporting evidence on our Explore Oregon Stage: a nearly non-stop showcase for Oregon’s best and brightest. (Scheduling details to come.)

Should you be interested in getting involved—either as a participant or enthusiastic supporter—there are tons of excellent options. One thing’s for sure: the Creative Living team aims to serve up an engaging and sometimes surprising experience for everyone.

If one of our many competitions captures your interest, just click on the corresponding link below. Our competition handbooks are also now available for downloading—they’ll tell you everything you need to know.

Creative Living Divisions

VISUAL ARTS

• Fine Art
• Calligraphy
• Photography

CRAFTS

• Poetry
• Crafts and Hobbies (including Woodworking and Legos)
• Paper Arts

AGRICULTURE & HORTICULTURE

• Farm and Garden
• Honey and Products of the Hive
• Floral

TEXTILES

• Needlework and Clothing
• Quilting
• Felting, Spinning and Weaving

CULINARY & ENTERTAINING

• Baked Foods
• Preserved Foods
• Decorated Cakes and Confectionery Arts
• Table Decorating

Other

• S.T.R.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, Math)
• BEST OF THE BEST Competition

Thank you to our 2017 Creative Living Partners

Textiles

• Aurora Colony Handspinner’s Guild
• Brazilian Embroidery Guild
• Canvas Connections & Cherry City Needlework
• Jeanette Pitalo
• Metro Machine Knitters Guild
• Mid-Valley Quilt Guild
• North Santiam Quilters
• NW Association of Traditional Rug Hookers
• Northwest Quilters
• Oregon Coast Quilt Guild, Newport, OR
• Portland Lace Society
• Rose City Stitchers
• Salem Fiberarts Guild
• Salem Millstream Knitting Club
• Sublimity Quilters
• Weaving Guilds of Oregon

Farm & Garden

• Godfrey Nursery
• Zach Smith, 1880 Case Tractor

Paper Arts

• AC Gilbert House – Salem
• Andy Hebert
• Christy Wood
• Clavell Sturtzman
• Craft Warehouse – Salem
• Create a Memory – Salem
• Mac McLaughlin
• Main Street Stamps – Tigard
• Marjorie Towers
• Paper Parachute – Beaverton
• Peddler’s Pack – Beaverton
• Runaway – Salem
• Sunny Klampe
• The Merri Artist – McMinnville
• Whimzee’s – Beaverton

Photography

• FocalPoint Photography – Dallas
• Salem Digital Photography Group

Culinary & Entertaining

• C&H Sugar
• LifeSource Natural Foods
• OSU Extension Office
• Willamette Valley Kitchen Co

Crafts & Hobbies

• Center 50 Plus, Pine Needle Basketry
• Columbia River Marquetry Club
• Emerald Valley Leathercrafters Guild
• Gates Leather Shop in Cottage Grove
• Lime Green Socks – Patti Moore
• Oregon State Button Society
• Salem Capitol Woodcarvers
• Scale Auto Builders Association
• Willow Station Furniture

Calligraphy

• Capital Calligraphers Guild
• Portland Society for Calligraphy
• Rogue Pens
• Valley Calligraphy Guild

Decorated Cakes & Confectionery Arts

• Cherry City Cake & Candy Supply
• Culinart Inc
• Culinary Inc (Marvelous Molds)
• MS Sugar Arts
• Sugar Geek Show
• The Cake Room