Today, I want to give you an early look at some of the food art competitions and events coming up later this year. Food carving competitions are a great way to showcase the beautiful art of vegetable and fruit carving, and are an opportunity for like minded culinary enthusiasts to share and learn from each other.
Besides fruit carving, food art competitions and events can include cooking, ice carving, cake decorating and chocolate carving. Oh, and let’s not forget about a watermelon eating contest and watermelon face painting. Find out more about these fun and wacky fruit activities and how they are actually supporting a great cause!
Solebrate Food Art Competition in Ohio
The Solebrate Food Art Competition is a fruit carving affair that is being held in Hillard, Ohio on June 23, 2012. For this fun competition, carvers are asked to bring in one pre-carved sculpture to be arranged on site within a one hour time limit. Any fruit, vegetable or beans and spices can be used to dress up the carving presentation.
In addition, competitors will have one hour to complete a carving demonstration. The entire display will be judged by the crowd for the “people’s choice” award.
The Solebrate Food Art Competition is being hosted by the University of Akron Garde Manger Club. It is a first year venue and members hope that it will evolve into a larger competition in years to come. If you are interested in attending this fruit carving competition, you can download the entry form here. Here’s hoping that the first Solebrate Fruit Carving Competition is a success!
By the way, check out some of the fantastic fruit carving by members of the University of Akron Garde Manger Club:

An outdoor fruit carving event with the University of Akron Garde Manger Club

Chef Richard Alford and his student s of the University of Akron Garde Manger Club
Melon Monstrosity Food Art Event
The Melon Monstrosity is a fun event that is taking place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania over the Labor Day weekend from September 1st to September 3rd, 2012. This fruit carving event is part of Pennsylvania’s Kipona and Artsfest event, which offers great food, fun and, of course, amazing art!
This year’s Melon Monstrosity team includes Chef Guido Michael from Fruitopian Artistry, whose crew plans to break the Guinness Book record for the world’s tallest fruit sculpture!

Melon Sculpture by Chef Guido Michael of Fruitopian Artistry
The list of fun activities at this food art event includes a watermelon carving demonstration, traditional Thai carving displays and the Melon Monstrosity constructions, which will feature Chef Michael’s record breaking fruit sculpture plus a “mini” 10 foot melon sculpture on display.
There are several activities that will have their proceeds donated to the Children’s Miracle Network as well! This includes the watermelon eating contest and kids watermelon face painting.
If you’re in Pennsylvania over Labor Day weekend, the Melon Monstrosity food art event sounds like a great family affair.
Enjoy Taking in Some Food Art this Spring and Summer!
With the weather getting warmer, there may be food festivals in your area that showcase some form of food art. If you get a chance to take some photos of interesting food art in your area, I would love to see them!
In the meantime, I invite you to take an armchair adventure to see some amazing food art events that happen in other parts of the world. Just check out the photos from a few of my previous blog posts:
Food Art – Chinese Sugar Painting
I hope you get a chance to take in some food art in your area this Spring and Summer!
Hello Nita: Thanks so much for your posts, is really amazing to see those pictures, I live in Orlando Florida, I will love to participate on a competition, but I have not seen anything like that around here 🙁 but I will keep my eyes open ,,,thanks again
my name is cuong, from Hanoi, Vietnam, i like cooking and fruit cutting carving…
please send me the ways to sign in this web for learn
best thanks
Hi Cuong
You can sign in at http://www.vegetablefruitcarving.com to get a free lesson. I will also send ideas, tips, tricks and mini-lessons from time to time.
To see more lessons and tools, you can visit my online shop at http://www.vegetablefruitcarving.com/shop. No need to sign in to shop.
Happy Carving!
Hi Nita!
You are amazing and have some great ideas!
Thank you for share us!
Warm greetings from Romania!
I can’t take credit for the carvings on this page but I am glad that you enjoyed seeing them!
Hi Nita, Thank you for your all your great ideas. I live in Goodwood, Cape Town, South Africa and im in the catering industry. You always inspire me with your beautiful carvings.
I am definitely putting my hand at some of your ideas into my next fruit arrangement.
Thank you for sharing with us.