2026 Fauquier Juneteenth Contests
RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY HEROES
Nominations will be accepted from March 1, 2026 through May 15, 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. Click here to nominate your community hero.
2025 Winners: Earsaline Anderson, Mary Haak, Shannon Fields, and Angela Hughes Davidson
3RD ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST for Juniors & High School Seniors - $500 Prize
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 15, 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.
Enter your essay here.
2025 Winner: Delaney Horton
5TH ANNUAL SWEET POTATO PIE & 2ND 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.
To register for either contest, click here.
2025 Winner for Sweet Potato Pie and Pound Cake: 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 and labeled with the contents and dated no more than 12 months prior to the contest. Headspace is 1/4 inch from the lid.
Jams & Jellies will be judged on the following criteria: flavor, texture, appearance, consistency, creativity of ingredients, and labeling.
To register for the Jams & Jellies Contest, click here.
2025 Winner: Donna from Sweet Jesus Jams and Jellies
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”
Register and/or enter your digital art/photography here. Follow instructions below for dropping off artwork.
Entries are due no later than June 1, 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. 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. Other entries can be dropped off at Walk by Faith, 9 S 5th St., Warrenton, VA 20186 (no later than 5 pm on 5/29/26) 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
2024 Winner: Akbar Reid, Hand of the Creator
Join us in celebrating previous contest winners here.
For more information reach out to Christina Broderick, Contest Coordinator at csbroderick8@gmail.com.
