If your fair needs rooms beyond its Embassy Suites allocation, complete the Overflow Rooms form. Rooms are placed at a partner hotel based on availability, and hotel placement and room types are not guaranteed. A three-night minimum stay is required.

The Tennessee Fairest of the Fair pageant is held at the convention. Contest date, time and place: Friday, January 14, 2028 at 5:00 p.m. in Mirabella EF. Contestant registration and rehearsal begin Thursday, January 13, and the Queens Party for contestants is that evening.

The pageant co-chairs are Britni Singleteary, Frances Brooks, Lorrie Horton and Shari Bazydola.

For pageant tickets, speak with your fair representative for more information.

The Fair Showcase is where member fairs bring their displays and exhibits to the convention and compete. All fairs are encouraged to take part. Winners receive premiums and ribbons: $50 for first place, $20 for second and $10 for third. There is no payout for the Golden Needle Award or the Most Outstanding Entry.

Display set-up: Thursday, January 14, 2027 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. No entries are accepted Friday morning. Registration due: January 1, 2027. Digital Advertising Media is due January 4, 2027 by 5 p.m. Central. Exhibits are released Saturday after the Merit Awards Banquet and Sunday morning. The full guidelines and the registration form are below.

1. Premium Book – Class A
2. Premium Book – Class AA
3. Premium Book – Class AAA
4. Premium Tabloid
5. Fair Picture Collage
6. Fair Brochure
7. Fair Flyer
8. Fair Poster
9. Ugly Fair Sweater
10. Scrapbook – Class A
11. Scrapbook – Class AA
12. Scrapbook – Class AAA
13. Scrapbook – Regional
14. Scrapbook – Digital
15. Pick Tennessee Product Display
16. Baby or Lap Quilt
17. Quilt – Hand Pieced and Hand Quilted
18. Quilt – Machine Pieced and Machine Quilted
19. Quilt – Machine Pieced and Hand Quilted
20. Quilt – Hand Pieced and Machine Quilted
21. Free Standing Display
22. Table Top Display
23. Fair Promotional Item
24. Season Pass
25. Round Theme Display
26. TAF Theme Collage
27. Digital Advertising Media
28. Other Media
29. Creative Ag Fair Idea
30. Creative Non-Ag Fair Idea
31. Hats
32. Shirt – Screen Print
33. Shirt – Embroidery
34. Ribbon Craft
35. Recycled/Repurposed Item
36. Fair Follies
37. Painted Rock
38. Unique Crochet Item
39. Most Outstanding Item
40. Golden Needle Award

See the guidelines above for how each category is judged.

The entertainment showcase gives fairs a chance to review acts for fair booking. Showcase acts are 15 to 20 minutes. Acts apply with the Entertainment Showcase form: type of performance, artist contact and minimum sound requirements (stage plot). Return it to Rhonda Humbert, 175 S. T. Wilhoit Drive, Greeneville, TN 37743, or Show email. Questions: 423-552-4068 or 423-639-3819.