Cake Contests

$0.00

PRIZES 

Blue (1st place), red (2nd place), and white (3rd place) ribbons will be awarded in the following categories:

  • Best Chocolate Cake

  • Best Non-Chocolate Cake

One blue (1st place) ribbon will be awarded in the following categories:

  • Best Vegan Cake 

  • Best Gluten Free Cake 

RULES

  1. Individuals may not submit more than one entry for each of the two main categories listed above (chocolate and non-chocolate).

  2. Chocolate vs non-chocolate refers to whether or not the batter contains cocoa or chocolate.

  3. Individuals may submit the same cake for more than one category (e.g., a vegan chocolate cake). All vegan and/or gluten free cakes will be under consideration for best chocolate or non-chocolate cake.

  4. Each entry must be made from scratch. No mixes (cake, cookie, pudding, jello, frosting, icing or other mixes) will be accepted as ingredients in the entry. 

  5. Cake cannot contain any of the following: uncooked cream, cream cheese, Jell-O/gelatin, raw eggs, or other products that are high risk for spoilage. No items that require refrigeration will be accepted.

JUDGING CRITERIA

  1. Taste (40%)

    1. Cake is satisfying, nuanced, and sweet but not overly so.

  2. Appearance (30%)

    1. Cake is appealing and well decorated or presented. 

  3. Texture (30%)

    1. Cake is soft and moist.

    2. Cake is fluffy and spongy, with an evenly airy crumb.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Register for the cake contest at https://www.dcstatefair.org/2026-contests by 11:00 pm on Friday, August 21. No walk-up registrations will be accepted.

  2. Bring your entry, accompanied with a removable label that includes a list of ingredients used in making your entry, your name, the contest category, and the name of the entry (see template), to the 4th Floor Conference Center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G St NW on Saturday, August 29 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS

  1. We encourage bringing entries in recyclable or compostable containers. If you need to pick up the container you brought your entry in, you (or someone on your behalf) must pick it up between 4:00 and 5:00 pm on the same day as judging (Saturday, August 29) from Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Leftovers from culinary entries are offered to judges and library staff so there may not be anything left of the entry. 

Type:

PRIZES 

Blue (1st place), red (2nd place), and white (3rd place) ribbons will be awarded in the following categories:

  • Best Chocolate Cake

  • Best Non-Chocolate Cake

One blue (1st place) ribbon will be awarded in the following categories:

  • Best Vegan Cake 

  • Best Gluten Free Cake 

RULES

  1. Individuals may not submit more than one entry for each of the two main categories listed above (chocolate and non-chocolate).

  2. Chocolate vs non-chocolate refers to whether or not the batter contains cocoa or chocolate.

  3. Individuals may submit the same cake for more than one category (e.g., a vegan chocolate cake). All vegan and/or gluten free cakes will be under consideration for best chocolate or non-chocolate cake.

  4. Each entry must be made from scratch. No mixes (cake, cookie, pudding, jello, frosting, icing or other mixes) will be accepted as ingredients in the entry. 

  5. Cake cannot contain any of the following: uncooked cream, cream cheese, Jell-O/gelatin, raw eggs, or other products that are high risk for spoilage. No items that require refrigeration will be accepted.

JUDGING CRITERIA

  1. Taste (40%)

    1. Cake is satisfying, nuanced, and sweet but not overly so.

  2. Appearance (30%)

    1. Cake is appealing and well decorated or presented. 

  3. Texture (30%)

    1. Cake is soft and moist.

    2. Cake is fluffy and spongy, with an evenly airy crumb.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Register for the cake contest at https://www.dcstatefair.org/2026-contests by 11:00 pm on Friday, August 21. No walk-up registrations will be accepted.

  2. Bring your entry, accompanied with a removable label that includes a list of ingredients used in making your entry, your name, the contest category, and the name of the entry (see template), to the 4th Floor Conference Center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G St NW on Saturday, August 29 between 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS

  1. We encourage bringing entries in recyclable or compostable containers. If you need to pick up the container you brought your entry in, you (or someone on your behalf) must pick it up between 4:00 and 5:00 pm on the same day as judging (Saturday, August 29) from Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Leftovers from culinary entries are offered to judges and library staff so there may not be anything left of the entry.