Creative Arts Gets “All Shook Up” for 2025 Clay County Fair

Spencer, Iowa — Let your creativity shine at the 2025 Clay County Fair, powered by SMU, September 6-14. The Creative Arts Department invites exhibitors of all ages to showcase their talents in needlework, painting, quilting, woodworking, and more!

This year’s Special Feature Class is “Elvis 90th Birthday – All Shook Up!” Exhibitors are encouraged to showcase their artistic expression of all things Elvis. Whether it’s rhinestones and rockabilly or blue suede shoes, this themed division celebrates the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in creative and unexpected ways.

Returning in 2025 is the crowd-favorite Memorable Collections division, sponsored by Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones. This division invites exhibitors to share their cherished collections by creating thoughtful displays and sharing short stories detailing how their collections began and why they hold meaning. The Best Overall Collection will earn $300, with additional prizes bringing the total premium payout to $1,000.

New this year is the Apron Fashion Show, a special collaboration with the Culinary Departments. Exhibitors are invited to show off aprons of any kind (handmade, vintage, store-bought, funny, or themed) and share their apron’s story while modeling it on Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 p.m. Pre-registration through the Oven Department is strongly encouraged. This division is open to all ages.

The Creative Arts Department also thanks its generous sponsors who support various award categories: Clover Cottage, Quilted Steeple, Arts on Grand, The Bee Hive, Prairie Woolens, Quilters Portable, Vermeer Glass Art, and the Victoria Axtell Family.

Whether you’re a first-time crafter or a seasoned exhibitor, the Creative Arts Department is the place to get inspired, be expressive, and celebrate creativity.

Open Class Creative Arts is open to exhibitors from any county or state. All participants are encouraged to review the 2025 Exhibitor Handbook for complete rules and guidelines, available online at www.claycountyfair.com or in person at the Fair Administrative Office. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be completed online, by mail, or in person by Monday, August 4. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by Friday, August 15. Exhibitors may also register entries at the time of drop-off, which will take place at the Creative Living Building on Friday, August 29 (12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, August 30 (9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.).

About the Clay County Fair & Events Center – Rooted in Tradition, the Clay County Fair and Events Center is a year-round facility that hosts more than 300 events annually, including its signature event, the Clay County Fair, powered by SMU. Known as “The World’s Greatest County Fair” since 1917, the Fair attracts more than 300,000 guests each September for nine days of world-class entertainment, competition, food, fun, and the largest farm machinery show at any fair in the United States. For more information, visit claycountyfair.com. 

 

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