Food Art Competitions Take Center Stage

Svetlana Partem and her 2nd prize winning fruit carving display at last year’s Heritage Days Vegetable and Fruit Carving Competition

Showcase your talent at transforming basic food into amazing pieces of art by entering a food art competition this year.

We are coming into the season for Food art contests here in the United States. Both amateurs and professionals can enter their elaborate, decorative carvings and compete for cash prizes and bragging rights.

As we’ve seen in past blogs, whether the artwork is created out of fruit, vegetables, pizza or lattes, the artistic masterpieces are often breathtaking. There are a several fruit carving competitions taking place this summer and fall in the Midwest United States. Find out more about these food art contests by reading on.

First place Amateur sculpture by Shannon Gershimchik at a fruit carving competition last summer.

Food Art Competitions in the Midwest

Solebrate Food and Music Festival

The Solebrate Food and Music Festival, an annual event in Hilliard, Ohio, will host its second food art competition on Saturday, June 22, 2013. Held at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, professional food artists compete to win cash prizes, starting at $500 for first place. The top five, as voted on by the judging panel, receive $100 to $500. There will also be a people’s choice prize of $150.

Have fun at the fruit carving competition at Solabrate in Hilliard, Ohio.

As of the writing of this article, there is just one spot left for a carver. If you are interested, contact Greg Butauski at www.RockonIce.com. If you happen to be near Hilliard, Ohio this Saturday, June 22, it’s always fun to attend fruit carving competitions as a spectator.

In addition to the food art contest, Solebrate also hosts a sand sculpting contest, ice sculpture demonstrations and live entertainment.

Learn more about the Solebrate Food and Music Festival.

Ohio State Fair Food Art Competition

The Ohio State Fair will be having a fruit and vegetable food art competition July 31, 2013

If you can’t make the Solebrate Festival, you can visit the Ohio State Fair Food Art Competition. Open to amateurs and professionals, the contest is held on July 31, 2013 and offers a $400 prize to the first place winner in the professional category.

More Food Art Competitions

Jack Hanna Pumpkin Carving Championship

For professionals who specialize in pumpkin carving, there’s the Jack Hanna Pumpkin Carving Championships at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on September 21 and 22. Two 200 pound pumpkins will be provided for carvers to showcase their talents.

The Carve VI

Finally, The Carve VI, another pumpkin carving competition, will be held on October 12 in Holland, Michigan. The Carve I through The Carve V were 2 day fruit and vegetable carving events that were quite fun. This year, it seems that The Carve VI will be a one day pumpkin carving competition. With three categories (professional, amateur and collegiate), there’s plenty of opportunities to display your skills. The prizes have not been decided yet. Look for more information to come.

 We hope you have the opportunity to visit or participate in a  food art competition this year.