Gingerbread Competition & Display

A holiday tradition at Peddler’s Village since 1984!

The Gingerbread Competition & Display is a feast for the eyes with over 100 whimsical entries crafted by the public competing for cash prizes in different categories. Entries are judged by experts with the public invited to vote on their favorite entry through December 6. The Gingerbread entries will be on display from November 15, 2024 through January 19, 2025. Admission is free.

Call for Entries

All members of the public are invited to participate in the gingerbread competition by entering one of nine categories. The deadline for entries is November 6, 2024. Contest details are below.

The Competition

Categories

Holidays are the time to turn to classic traditions for decorating ideas and inspiration. Any structure is allowed in this category! Victorian, colonial, modern, house, barn, cottage – you decide. Make sure to decorate for the holidays!
PRIZES: 1st-$300; 2nd-$250; 3rd-$200; 4th-$100; 5th-$75; 6th-$50; (3) Honorable Mentions-$25

Sculpt a gingerbread that is out of the ordinary. Let your imagination run Yuletide wild! Gingerbread structures need not be of a traditional design. No buildings or houses allowed.
PRIZES: 1st-$300; 2nd-$250; 3rd-$200; 4th-$100; 5th-$75; 6th-$50; (3) Honorable Mentions-$25

Lights! Camera! Icing! Cue the graham cracker sand and gummy lightsabers. Reproduce your favorite on-screen moment with gingerbread.
PRIZES: 1st-$300; 2nd-$250; 3rd-$200; 4th-$100; 5th-$75; 6th-$50; (3) Honorable Mentions-$25

Depict something special that brings you joy during your holiday season (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.)
PRIZES: 1st-$300; 2nd-$250; 3rd-$200; 4th-$100; 5th-$75; 6th-$50; (3) Honorable Mentions-$25

Combine your favorite candy and delicious treats to design your traditional holiday dream house!

Entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Teen, Youth and Kids Only competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, guardian, or classroom teacher.

PRIZES: 1st-$100 2nd-$75 3rd-$50 (3) Honorable Mentions-$20

Combine your favorite candy and delicious treats to design your traditional holiday dream house!

Entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Teen, Youth and Kids Only competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, guardian, or classroom teacher.

PRIZES: 1st-$100 2nd-$75 3rd-$50 (3) Honorable Mentions-$20

This category is for our 8-and-under guests. Have fun and be creative!

Entries must be solely constructed by the individual(s) entering the competition. Teen, Youth and Kids Only competitors may be supervised, for safety precautions, by a parent, guardian, or classroom teacher.

GIGGLEBERRY FAIR PRIZES:
1st- $100 Giggleberry Gift Card
2nd- $ 75 Giggleberry Gift Card
3rd- $50 Giggleberry Gift Card
(3) Honorable Mentions – $10 Game Card

Show off your skills in any of the five themes listed below! Gingerbread entries created by professionals will be judged as one category. Professionals may only enter one gingerbread creation.

Please enter the Professional category if you have ever been paid or solicited for decorating, designing, or creating pastries or baked goods. Do you have a website, blog or business cards that solicit business for your baked goods? If the answer is yes to any of these, please enter the Professional category. Professional entries may place a company business card in their display. Professionals who enter an Amateur level will be disqualified.

PRIZES: 1st-$325 2nd-$275 3rd-$225

Judging

Entries will be judged the week of November 11, 2024. Professional entries will be judged separately and as a one category. Entries will be judged on a scale of 1-5 based on:
1. Overall appearance/ composition of the design
2. “Holiday spirit” incorporated in the design
3. Originality/imagination/use of materials
4. Difficulty of design/design execution
5. “Fit” in category

Winners / Prizes

The winners that have been judged will be posted on the Peddler’s Village website by November 15, 2024. Prizes will be available for pickup on January 20 & 21, 2025. The winners’ list will not be available by phone.

Click on the categories above to view the prizes.

People’s Choice Prize: Guests can vote for their favorite gingerbread entry from November 15-December 2! (Criteria: Best Use of Color, Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Innovative Structure, and Holiday Spirit). The winner will be announced on December 6 and win a Dinner for four at Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant.

Entry Forms

There is no fee to enter. The deadline for completed entry forms is November 6, 2024. Amateur groups or individuals may enter only one gingerbread creation per category, but may enter more than one category. Please complete one form per entry.

Entry Drop Off

Completed gingerbread creations must be brought to Peddler’s Village on Sunday, November 10, 2024, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. All entries must remain in Peddler’s Village for display from November 15, 2024 through January 19, 2025. Entries that are removed from Peddler’s Village by the entrant prior to the close of the display will forfeit eligibility to win prizes. Eligibility to enter the Gingerbread Competition for the coming year will also be forfeited.

Entry Display

Entries will be displayed at Peddler’s Village from November 15, 2024 through January 19, 2025. Peddler’s Village reserves the right to remove any entry which begins to look in disrepair.

Pickup

All entries must be picked up Sunday & Monday, January 20 & 21, 2025, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Any entries that are not picked up by this time will become the property of Peddler’s Village.

Dos & Don’ts

  • Size limitations:
    • Any entries that exceed the size and weight limitation will be disqualified and will not be displayed.
    • All entries must be mounted on a sturdy piece of plywood display board (½” or ¾” plywood is recommended).
    • The maximum size for display boards is 16”x 16” with a maximum height of 18”.
    • Kids Only! Category: display boards’ maximum size is 12”x 12” with a maximum height of 12”.
    • Weight is not to exceed 50 pounds.
    • The display board should act as an integral part of your design and be size appropriate to your creation without exceeding the maximum size limits. Don’t use a large board and leave it unincorporated in your overall design – it should complement your creation. The base is considered part of the judging criteria.
  • Amateurs may enter only one gingerbread creation per category, but may enter more than one category. Professionals may enter only one entry into the Professional category. Please complete one entry form per gingerbread.
  • Please securely attach a 3”x 5” card on the underside of your display base listing your name, address, email address, telephone number and the category you have entered. Please include any details about your entry that you feel might be important to the judges (i.e. list of edible items you have used that are unusual, the name of your entry, etc.).
  • Use of gingerbread: The main structure of entry must be constructed of at least 60% gingerbread.
  • Non-visible interior supports: Non-edible materials may be used for non-visible supports. Competitors are permitted to use up to 40% mechanically produced components in their entry. Examples include: machine designed, 3D printed and laser cut components
  • Please do not include lighting, movement, or other electronic or battery-operated components in the construction or decoration of the entry. NO SOUND.
  • Everything visible on your entry MUST be edible: For example, a piece of candy in a foil wrapper is non­-edible – you must remove the foil. The only exception is the edges of the board on which your entry is mounted. Use of gum paste, fondant, pastillage, chocolate, modeling chocolate, royal icing, isomalt, cast sugar, gelatin, pressed sugar, “Disco Dust”, “Rainbow Dust” or “Hologram Powder” is encouraged. No visible structural materials, such as Styrofoam, or plastic ornamentation.
  • Your gingerbread creation must be sturdy in order to qualify for displaying and judging. Peddler’s Village reserves the right to remove any entries that deteriorate.
  • Gingerbread Competition & Display is a family-friendly show. Peddler’s Village reserves the right not to display an entry that is deemed offensive, controversial, inappropriate, religious, political, or poorly constructed and may remove entries based on guest complaints or damage.
  • Peddler’s Village is not responsible for any gingerbreads on display.
  • TIPS
    – A strong idea is key. Sometimes the best entries are the simplest, yet most recognizable.
    – Craftsmanship can make or break the overall look of a project.
    – Make sure everything has set and there is nothing still wet.
    – Remember your gingerbread creation will be on display for over six weeks. Make sure everything is secure and has proper weight distribution to prevent toppling!
    – To make glass windows or lakes out of sugar, remember to heat your sugar mixture to 300°F, then remove it from heat. The candy must reach 300°F. If you do not get the candy hot enough, it will not set properly. Your candy will end up sticky no matter how long you let it sit or cool.
  • Remember to incorporate a nod to the holidays in your design.