We want to see your gingerbread creations! Scroll down after this important information to submit your house(s).
Is there a fee for entering a house?
No.
Will my house be judged?
No, but your creation might be recognized for its creativity, use of color, or similar!
Updates for 2025!
We love scenes, but try to choose a base that is only a little larger than your structure(s). If possible, be creative and think vertical, as this helps add visual interest to our displays and helps us arrange all of the submissions. Cake pedestals are a great example and can be picked up at the dollar store or thrift shop if donating your house. If you usually make a large base of many small houses, consider ways to build vertically (tiered or stacked in some way).
What are the guidelines for creating my house(s)?
Both Edible and Sweet creations as well as Creative and Crafty ones! For Edible and Sweet gingerbread houses, we ask that your creation be mainly made out of edible materials, with a few important notes:
- Your house must be mounted on a sturdy base, suitable for moving it around.
- No gelatin (it can create mold) and no buttercream frosting (it can melt)
- Use a sturdy form of gingerbread for the construction of your masterpiece such as this recipe.
- We recommend using Royal Icing to hold it all together. Other icings are not strong enough and tend to melt.
For Creative and Crafty gingerbread houses, we have some important notes and guidelines:
- This is a creative challenge for adults and talented youth who have artistic hobbies other than culinary arts, not children’s groups.
- Are you a woodworker, potter or upcycler? Into leatherworking, needlework or ceramics? We want to see YOUR vision of a gingerbread house!
- Please create a traditional gingerbread house – for example, no trains, beach scenes or decor themes that aren’t seasonal to December. How will you create colorful lights, snowy rooftops and other delicate gingerbread details?
- Please, no craft kits
- Your gingerbread house should fit on a tabletop – if you have something else in mind, please contact Carolyn Venne
Is there a theme I should follow?
While not required to follow the theme, this year our festival is themed “Gingy in Toyland.” If you’d like some inspiration, see our Decor Wish List page.
When should I drop off my house(s):
For 2025, houses may be dropped off:
- Saturday, November 22 10am – 2pm
- Sunday, November 23 2pm – 5pm
- Monday, November 24 4pm – 6pm
What happens to my house after the festival?
You can have your house donated to the raffle OR you can choose to pick it up:
- Monday, December 15 4pm – 7pm
- Tuesday, December 16 4pm – 7pm
House Submissions and Signs
Update for 2025: If you know the name of your creation and all the names who should be included on the house sign, please include them in your house registration below. We are going to attempt to have as many house signs made in advance in order to save you time at drop-off.
Please submit ONE FORM for EACH BASE that you are entering. Put differently, please submit a form below for each house sign that you will need (one submission form = one base = one house sign).