Corn Festival Exhibit Book

Show off your skills at the Festival Open Class Exhibits

Here’s an opportunity to showcase your creativity at this year’s Corn Palace Festival. You can bake a cake, color a picture, show off your homegrown produce, design a flower arrangement or make one of the many other options. All exhibits will be displayed in the Armory Gymnasium for the entire festival.

Ages three and over are eligible to compete in the Corn Palace Festival Open Class Exhibits. (Age as of Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023) Categories include: Art & Crafts, Photography, Foods, Horticulture/Agriculture.

All requirements for each exhibit can be found in the Open Class Exhibit Book. Each exhibit must be marked with an entry tag containing the exhibitor’s name, age, category, class, division, and a brief description of the exhibit. There is a maximum of one entry per person per class. Only one grand prize will be awarded per participant. Participants who win grand prize in multiple categories will be awarded their ribbons in each winning category, but only one Passport to Fun or concert ticket will be awarded.

Open Class Exhibit Book Submitting and Picking Up Exhibits

Exhibits can be delivered to the Corn Palace Armory on Wednesday, August 23rd, between 10 am and 5 pm, enter via City Hall or the Corn Palace.  The judging will begin at 5 pm.   All projects will be displayed by 7 pm that evening. In the City Armory Gym on 2nd floor. All exhibits must be picked up from the Corn Palace Armory on Sunday, August 27th between the hours of 1 -  5 p.m. or they will be discarded.

When submitting perishable items, all produce becomes Corn Palace property. We are not responsible for the exhibits.

Beginner Exhibits will be given a participation ribbon. 

 A grand champion, first and second place ribbon will be awarded in all other divisions. A grand champion will be announced in each division of every class and will receive a ribbon along with a Corn Palace Festival prize (carnival ride pass or concert ticket).

Judging

Exhibits will be judged on Visual appearance, Originality, and Workmanship/Craftsmanship.  

Class Numbering System Example

  • The 3 digits are the Class - 001-Coloring, 101-Photography, 202-Jams and Jellies, 303-Produce, etc.
  • The letter in parentheses is the Division:
    • (B) Beginning level, ages 3-11
    • (J) Junior level, ages 12-18
    • (S) Senior level, ages 19 and over

(Age as of Wednesday, August 23rd , 2023)

For more information or questions, call the Corn Palace Box Office at 605-995-8430.