Check Out This Gingerbread Contest

A gingerbread house from last year's annual gingerbread house competition

Photography courtesy of Omni Hotels

Christmas is the season of entertaining, snow (in some regions) and spreading good cheer. But it’s also a great time to bake up a storm of Christmas goodies, like gingerbread. If you love gingerbread and would rather see someone else’s creative cooking, check out a gingerbread contest.

A miniture European style home made from gingerbread from last year's annual gingerbread house competition — 2018 Second Place Winner

Every year, the Omni Resort in Asheville, North Carolina has one of the largest gingerbread contests in the country. This year’s 27th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition™ will be held on Monday, November 18, 2019. Guests visiting the hotel (staying overnight or just passing through) can see the winning gingerbread contest displays from Wednesday, November 20, 2019 until January 4, 2020. Besides getting to see the inventive culinary feats of other cooks, your contributions to the contest via paying for parking will help local nonprofits. What a sweet deal!

A large gingerbread swan from last year's annual gingerbread contest — 2018 Top Ten Winner

The Holiday Parking Program

Through the Holiday Parking Program, the competition has raised over $430,000 in support of local nonprofits, ranging from United Way to Meals on Wheels and many more. Drive-in guests will pay a minimum of $25, and half of each parking charge will be donated to these and other nonprofits.

A mini Christmas Carol from last year's annual gingerbread house competition — 2018 Grand Prize Winner

A Short History

This gingerbread contest first began as a fun event among community members in 1992. Now, two decades later, The National Gingerbread House Competition™ has grown so much that the event now includes a panel of judges, and the competition has even grabbed the attention of ABC’s Good Morning America and the Food Network.

Know Before You Go

Unfortunately, guests who aren’t staying overnight can view the winners starting after 3:00 pm on Sundays or anytime Monday through Thursday. Some days the display will not be available for outside visitors to view. These include: November 27, 28, December 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and January 1, 2020. Fridays and Saturdays are for guests of the hotel staying overnight.

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