Looking for a festive and fun family project that’s sweet this upcoming holiday season? Turn on the oven, roll out the gingerbread, and decorate a holiday gingerbread house. This traditional Yuletide baking project is a great way to teach kids about cooking and boost their creativity at the same time. And while you can use their masterpiece as a household decoration, you can also enter it into one of the contests below for prizes and awards. So get ready, get set, and build — you might just have a winner in the house. (feature photo credit: istock/Kate Smith)
8 Gingerbread House Contests The Whole Family Can Enter
Long Valley Junior Women’s Club Gingerbread House Contest
Categories: Ages 7-12; 12-17; adults (18 and older); families
Cost: Free
Deadline: November 30
Enter your gingerbread house creation in this creative competition, sponsored by the Long Valley Junior Women’s Club. All decorations for all entries must be edible, and winners will be chosen based on originality, best use of candy, overall appearance, and design difficulty. If you’re not up for the challenge but still want to be a part of the creations, view the houses and vote for your favorite on December 1 during the Holiday Happenings Celebration.
Jefferson Arts Committee’s Gingerbread Train/House Contest
Categories: Ages 4-5; 6-8; 9-12; 13-16; 17 and older
Cost: $7 per entry
Deadline: Entries postmarked by November 29; houses/trains dropped off by December 6 at 6:30 PM
Everyone in the fam can make a house (either homemade or from a supermarket kit) in this Jefferson Township competition, featuring this year’s theme—”Candy Land Christmas,” with themed structure and landscaping. Make sure to pre-register, and then after you’re done, mail in the entry form and the $7. Official judges will decide the winners based on creativity, originality, variety of materials, and connection to the theme. Each winner will receive a medal, and all entries will be displayed in Headley Hall on December 7 from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Ocean County Library (Jackson Branch)’s Gingerbread House Challenge
Categories: None specified
Cost: Free
Date: December 9 at 3:30
Put your skills to the test and create your best gingerbread house using the ingredients that will be provided at the event. You will have the opportunity to construct your own house that you can take home and show off or use as a decoration for the season.
Durand-Hedden’s Gingerbread House Contest
Categories: Little ones (8 and younger); youths (9-12); teens (13-17); adults (18 and older); professionals
Cost: Free
Deadline: Creation dropped off by December 8
Everyone — from the littlest littles to the pros — can participate in this contest. Feel free to construct any building; your kiddos can use cardboard for their structure (as long as it’s completely covered in edible materials); adult and professional submissions must be entirely edible (except for the base). Winners will be announced on December 8 and on display at Durand-Hedden in Maplewood during their Victorian Christmas Celebration.
Somerset County 4-H’s Gingerbread Contest
Categories: Youth, adult, youth group, adult group, and business
Cost: Free, but please bring a canned vegetable donation (for the 4-H holiday dinner)
Deadline: December 14 and 15, drop by on December 14 from 8 AM-10 AM with a complete entry form
You don’t have to be a 4-H club member to participate, so get your crew together to build a gingerbread house or art (such as a cookie jar or ornament). Drop your creation off at the Ted Blum 4-H Center in Bridgewater, where judges will review the competition entries and pick their winners during the Holiday Craft Festival on December 14. Winners will be posted on December 15.
Haddon Heights Neighbors’ Gingerbread House Competition
Categories: Most Traditional, Most Original, and Most “What the heck?”
Cost: Free
Deadline: December 7 at 10 AM
The 3rd annual gingerbread house contest is one event you’ll want to do with the whole family. All creations should be 100% edible, and there are no age restrictions to enter. There will be three winners, each of whom will be awarded $50 cash plus other prizes. Drop off at the Haddon Heights Library.
2024 Gingerbread Competiton With Noyes Art Garage
Categories: None specified
Cost: $5 per entry; registration starts on November 5.
Deadline: December 9, with gingerbread houses delivered between December 11 – 13.
This gingerbread house competition in Atlantic City will take place during the 2024 Noyes Holiday Market on December 14-15. The theme is a favorite fictional home. Awards will range from $500 for first place to $150 for third place.
2024 Hunterdon County Library Gingerbread House Competition
Categories: 12 and under, 13-18, Adult, Family, Group, Professionals, and Staff
Cost: Free
Deadline: November 23, Drop off December 7 or 8
Get the entire family together and construct a gingerbread house to celebrate the start of the season with the Hunterdon County Library in Flemington. All entries must fit into two themes: Gingerbread Story Land or Hunterdon County Scene. There will be a welcome reception on December 10, where the winners will be announced. The houses will then be displayed through December 27 so your family can walk around and take a look.
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