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.

When filmmaker Scott Gawlik and a few friends walked into the OC Fair in 2018, the plan for the day was simple. “We just went to drink some beers and hang out,” he says. “You have a big beer in your ...

Martha Stewart and Sandra Lee understand the importance of a good tablescape. The queens of tasteful dining decor popularized the art of obsessive table settings in the late ‘90s and early 2000s on ...

While looking for shade and a place to set his cold beer at the Orange County Fair, filmmaker Scott Gawlik discovered the art of tablescaping by fluke. What happened next was his deep dive into the ...

First come the tablecloths, fine china, flatware and stemware – and then come the rulers. At the Oregon State Fair table setting competition, precision is everything. On Aug. 24, two days before the ...

The Oregon State Fair brings hundreds of thousands people to Salem each year. They come for the rides, the shows, the food … and the competitions. One of the most unusual involves a skill many of us ...

When filmmaker Scott Gawlik and a few friends walked into the OC Fair in 2018, the plan for the day was simple. “We just went to drink some beers and hang out,” he says. “You have a big beer in your ...