From pie eating contests to pig races, county fairs are known for competition. But one contest that’s had a surge in popularity in recent years is one you might not expect: competitive table setting.
A 2021 documentary about the table settings competition at the Orange County Fair called Set! and some highly-viewed TikToks have led to a growth in the number of participants in the contest.
Veteran tablescaper Bonnie Overman recalled seeing fewer than 20 participants in 2019, the first year she participated at the OC Fair. This year, fair officials say there were more than 60 entries — including first-timers like YouTubers Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart and Emmy-winning production designer James Connelly, who documented their respective tablescaping journeys on social media.
What is competitive table setting?
Also called tablescaping (a term that was popularized by Food Network host Sandra Lee in the 2000s), table setting contests don’t have anything to do with how fast you can set a table or even involve any real food or drinks…