In this high-energy, live cake decorating competition, youth will engage in a creative, hands-on experience that fosters artistic expression, builds confidence, and promotes life skills such as planning, time management, and public presentation. In two competition levels, beginner and intermediate/advanced, youth will compete in timed rounds to transform plain cakes into themed masterpieces.
2026 State Cake Decorating Competition Information:
- Who: Youth ages 8 - 18 will compete in categories of Beginner or Intermediate/Advanced
- What: FREE! Timed, judged cake decorating competition with prizes!
- When: May 7, 2026 | Beginner level: 9:45 am - 2:15 pm | Intermediate/Advanced level: 11:00 am - 3:35 pm
- Where: Bevier Hall (Food Science and Human Nutrition Food Labs -third floor of Bevier Hall) | 905 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL
- How: Each participant must register via ZSuite and be enrolled in a 4-H club. Promotion from a county event is not required to participate in the state cake decorating competition. Registration opens February 23rd through April 17th at go.illinois.edu/CakeDecoratingCompetition. Event information and required forms are included in registration.
- Disclaimer: Event may be cancelled due to low enrollment at the discretion of the event organizer.
Theme
A single theme will be randomly drawn at the start of the event. All participants will decorate their cake using the theme selected from the following options:
- Route 66 Centennial
- Harvest of Illinois
- Milestones and Memories
Schedule
Beginner
9:45 - 10:00 am Check-in
10:00 - 10:20 am Orientation/Set up
10:20 - 11:50 am Cake decorating competition
11:50 am - 12:00 pm Clean up
12:00 - 12:45 pm Lunch
12:45 - 1:00 pm Presentations
1:00 - 1:10 pm Awards
1:15 - 2:15 pm Tour
Intermetidate/Advanced
11:00 - 11:15 am Check - in
11:15 am - 12:00 pm Lunch
12:00 - 1:00 pm Tour
1:10 - 1:30 pm Orientation/Set up
1:30 - 3:00 pm Cake decorating competition
3:00 - 3:10 pm Clean up
3:10 - 3:25 pm Presentations
3:25 - 3:35 pm Awards
