GCGA
Charm City Grooming Competition
January 29-31, 2027
Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD, USA
The Charm City Grooming Competition is an annual three-tier dog grooming event held at the World of Pets Expo in Timonium, Maryland, where professional groomers compete against each other in various categories, including Poodle, Sporting, and Salon Freestyle, with different levels of skill dividing the competitors into Entry, Intermediate, and Open divisions. It is one of the East Coast's most significant grooming events, attracting both experienced and novice groomers to test their skills under world-class judges and to purchase products from various vendors at the accompanying expo.
Divisions:
Groomers are categorized into divisions (Entry, Intermediate, and Open) based on their skill level.
Categories:
Competitors can enter various classes, such as Poodle, Sporting, Salon Freestyle, and Creative, each with specific rules.
Judging Criteria:
Judges evaluate the uniformity, balance, symmetry, and overall style of the trim, with specific criteria for purebred and freestyle grooms.
Team Challenge:
This unique event involves a team of three groomers working together to transform a dog's coat from overgrown to a styled look within a time limit.
Educational Opportunity:
The event takes place at the World of Pets Expo, offering educational seminars and a platform to learn from and network with top professionals.
GroomTeam Sanctioning:
The competition follows GroomTeam-sanctioned class rules, with exceptions for certain levels, and Open Division winners are eligible to earn GroomTeam USA points.
