2026 Fauquier Juneteenth Contests
RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY HEROES
Nominations will be accepted through May 20, 2026 for your local hero to be recognized at the Fauquier Juneteenth event. Fauquier Juneteenth has consistently recognized local heroes and celebrated individuals who have made significant contributions to the community. These local heroes embody the spirit of Juneteenth by promoting unity, equality, and positive change. Their diverse achievements span various fields, including education, activism, business, and community service. Fauquier Juneteenth's commitment to acknowledging and honoring these local heroes reflects its dedication to fostering a sense of pride, empowerment, and shared history within the community. Nominations have closed- please check back next year for a chance to nominate more Community Heroes.
2026 Winners: Rob Marino, Paulette Garner, Helena Carter, Jayne James
3RD ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST for Juniors & High School Seniors - $500 Prize
2026 Prompt: How can remembering difficult parts of history strengthen a community rather than divide it? Connect this idea to Juneteenth. Submissions are due by May 20, 2026 at midnight EDT. The winner will be announced no later than June 1, 2026. The winning essay will be read on June 19, 2026 at the Annual Festival.
The Essay Contest is open to High School Juniors & Seniors and should be 500 words or less. Essays will be judged based on relevance to the prompt, supporting details, organization, language conventions, and originality.
Entries are no longer being taken- please check back next year for a chance to enter your essay.
2026 Winner: Dillon McGregor
2026 Honorable Mention: Devyn Bowman
5TH ANNUAL SWEET POTATO PIE & 3RD ANNUAL POUND CAKE COMPETITION
Sweet Potato Pie- 1st place-$100, 2nd place- $50
Sweet Potato Pie will be judged on the following criteria: appearance, texture, flavor, creativity of ingredients, aroma, and overall impression.
Pound Cake - 1st place-$ 100, 2nd place- $50
Pound Cake will be judged on the following criteria: appearance, texture, flavor, consistency and overall impression.
Registration is now closed. Please check back next year for the 2027 contest.
2026 Sweet Potato Pie Winners: 1st Place- Valerie Taylor, 2nd Place- Spring Hawkins-Scott
2026 Pound Cake Winners: 1st Place- Spring Hawkins-Scott, 2nd Place-Valerie Taylor
3RD ANNUAL JAM & JELLY CONTEST - 1st place -$50
All entries must be:
- In clear canning jars with no rust on the screw top
-Labeled with the contents
-Dated no more than 12 months prior to the contest
-Headspace is 1/4 inch from the lid.
Jams & Jellies will be judged by VA certified judges on the following criteria: flavor, texture, appearance, consistency, creativity of ingredients, and labeling.
Registration is closed. Please check back next year for the 2027 competition.
2026 Winner: Sandra Dendy (Blackberry Jam)
2ND ANNUAL ART CONTEST
Art (any medium)- 1st place-$150, 2nd place- $100, 3rd place $50
Art Contest Theme: “Embracing Freedom: Expressions of Resilience and Unity”
This contest is closed to new entries- please check back next year! Follow instructions below for dropping off artwork.
Entries are due no later than June 12, 2026. All art entries will be displayed at the Juneteenth Celebration. We will return all entries after the Celebration. By participating in the contest, contestants agree that Fauquier Juneteenth reserves the right to use or reproduce the artwork for promotional or educational purposes related to the mission and activities of Fauquier Juneteenth. Works will be judged on adherence to the theme, creativity and originality, and technical skill/composition. Only Virginia residents are eligible to win.
Printed photographs need to be 5x7 and mounted on 8.5 x 11 thicker poster board/card stock. Digital entries can be submitted using the above link.
Physical entries can be dropped off at Walk by Faith, 9 S 5th St., Warrenton, VA 20186 (no later than 12 pm 6/12/26) or mailed to P.O. Box 420, Warrenton, VA. 20188.
Please include the following with your physical submission:
1. Artist's Name
2. Title of Artwork
3. Contact Information (Email Address and Phone Number)
4. Brief Description of the Artwork
2026 Winners: 1st Place- Karen Allen, 2nd Place-Ben Allen, 3rd Place- Barbara Nye
Join us in celebrating previous contest winners here.
For more information or for any questions, reach out to Christina Broderick, Contest Coordinator at csbroderick8@gmail.com.
