The State Fair is now accepting competition entries for the 2025 fair, Oct. 16-26. The Fair offers many competition categories such as arts and photography, culinary, livestock, fruit and vegetable production, hobbies and handicrafts, flowers, LEGOS and more. Don’t delay! Deadline to enter is Sept. 15.
One competition held each year during the N.C. State Fair helps fairgoers get into the holiday spirit. The Decorated Tree Competition, which is on display in the North Lobby of Dorton Arena, shows the creativity of the lucky competitors, chosen by raffle, to participate each year.
Last year, Lisa Westbrook of Durham placed third in the decorated tree competition with her Saint Patrick’s Day themed tree. “I have always admired the decorated trees during my visits to the fair,” Westbrook said. “I’ve always thought I could add my own unique touch and was very excited when I found out I was selected to compete.” Westbrook is a kindergarten teacher at River Park Elementary School in Hillsborough. Keep reading to find out how Westbrook prepared for last year’s competition and how you can compete at this year’s fair.
What was your inspiration?
“I wanted to make sure I was doing something original, so I brought several options with me that day. Easter, Thanksgiving and 4th of July. I wanted mine to be different from the rest and stand out and when I saw that there were several trees already started that matched some of the other holidays I brought, I knew my St. Patrick’s theme was meant to be. I was drawn to the St. Patrick’s Day theme because of its vibrant colors and festive spirit. The idea of transforming a tree into a lush, green oasis filled with shamrocks, rainbows and gold accents seemed like a fun and creative challenge. I created a pot of gold and loved the idea of having the rainbow colors flow down with the pot of gold at the base of the tree. Plus, who doesn’t love a little bit of the luck o’ the Irish?”
Where did you get the decorations?
“Last year, I purchased one of those viral Tik Tok trees from a local big box home improvement store and I was not ready to take it down after the holidays. I made my 2024 goal to challenge myself to decorate this tree each month of the year. It has been fun to explore different holidays and traditions from snowmen, to Easter bunnies, to summer fun to a patriotic 4th of July. We also celebrated a wedding anniversary, Valentine’s Day, Back-to-School, Fall theme and a Halloween tree. I love the idea of repurposing your holiday tree throughout the year! It’s such a creative and cost-effective way to decorate your home. As for my decorations, I’m a bit of a thrift store treasure hunter. I’ve picked up some amazing finds at local shops, like Scrap Exchange and TROSA in Durham and even found some fun pieces at the Amazon Return store on 25-cent day.”
Decorating trees is a passion for Westbrook
Westbrook is no stranger to decorating. At home she decorates five trees each year in different themes. “In my kitchen I have a traditional red and green tree,” she said. “My son’s birthday is in December so this tree always matches his birthday theme – last year was dinosaurs. The formal living room has a year in review tree that I decorate with picture ornaments of things we have done throughout the year. We have so much fun decorating and looking back at the memories we have made with family and friends. Other trees highlight vacations, school ornaments and other memories.
“We also have a little cottage in the North Carolina mountains, and I have three trees there that include a snowman tree, a mountain Christmas-themed tree and a traditional tree with lots of ornaments from my late grandmother,” Westbrook added. “I do this, so if people rent our place during the holidays it is nice and cozy and feels like the holidays for them. We also have two tall cedar trees outside, that I decorate to look like gnomes.”
“While I may not be a traditional artist, I’m a crafty person,” she added. “Teaching kindergarten has honed my creative thinking skills, as I’m constantly coming up with fun and engaging activities for my students. Crafting and teaching both require a unique blend of creativity, problem-solving and adaptability.”
How to enter this year’s decorated tree competition
Participants for the decorated tree competition are chosen by raffle and will be notified on Sept. 16 by phone and email if they have been chosen to decorate a tree. The Fair will furnish tree stands and a five-to-six-foot live tree to be decorated according to the theme. Due to fire codes, no electric decorations are allowed. Trees are to be decorated the weekend before the N.C. State Fair, on Saturday, Oct. 12, or Sunday, Oct. 13. Trees are judged on creativity, overall design and theme conformance.
For this year’s fair the tree decorating competition will center around America’s 250th – Celebrating the Great American State Fair.
The decorated tree competition is just one way the fair encourages participants to get crafty. Check out all of the competitions online at https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-state-fair/competitions/general-comps. Deadline to enter is Sept. 15.