Gingerbread House Contest

1. Divisions

Entries will compete in one of three divisions:

Student Division

Open to individual students, student teams, classrooms, school clubs and school organizations.

Commercial gingerbread house kits are permitted in the Student Division.

Home Baker Division

Open to individuals, families and amateur/home bakers. Entries should be substantially created and decorated by the entrant.

Community & Business Division

Open to businesses, nonprofit organizations, civic groups, churches, clubs, college groups, departments and other community organizations.

Contest organizers may adjust categories if necessary based on the number and types of entries received.

2. Theme

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Interpret the theme creatively!

Your creation might be a Victorian house or shop, a Downtown Fayetteville landmark, a favorite place that feels like home, a scene inspired by Dickens, a traditional gingerbread house or something entirely from your imagination.

3. Registration

Advance registration is requested by November 15, 2026.

There is no entry fee.

You do not need to have your gingerbread creation completed—or even completely designed—when you register.

Your final entry title, finished dimensions, delivery time and other display information can be provided closer to the event.

Late registrations may be accepted if display space is available.

4. Gingerbread & Edible Materials

Gingerbread should be a significant and recognizable part of the finished creation.

Visible decorative elements should be primarily edible. Candy, icing, cookies, cereal, pasta, fondant, chocolate and other edible materials are welcome.

A non-edible base is permitted.

Reasonable hidden structural supports may be used when needed for stability and safety, but they should not become the primary visible construction material.

Battery-operated lighting may be considered with advance approval.

5. Student Entries & Kits

Commercial gingerbread house kits are allowed for Student Division entries.

Students are encouraged to transform and personalize their kits through original decorating, additions, landscaping, characters, storytelling or other creative elements.

Students will not be penalized for using an allowed kit. Judges will consider the creativity and craftsmanship of the student's finished creation.

6. Home Baker & Community/Business Entries

Home Baker and Community & Business entries should represent the entrant's own creative work.

Commercially available candy, decorations and individual edible components may be used.

A completely assembled and decorated commercially purchased gingerbread house may not be entered as the entrant's original creation.

7. Size

The standard maximum base size is:

24 inches wide × 24 inches deep

Recommended maximum height:

Approximately 30 inches

You do not need to know your exact finished dimensions when you register.

If your creative idea requires something larger, contact the contest organizers for approval before building.

8. Safety & Stability

Entries must be sturdy enough to remain safely on public display.

Entries must be family-friendly and appropriate for visitors of all ages.

Open flames, hazardous materials and anything presenting a safety concern are prohibited.

Do not use perishable ingredients that require refrigeration.

Contest organizers may decline to display or may remove an entry that becomes unstable, unsafe or unsuitable for public exhibition.

9. Delivery & Setup

Completed entries must be delivered and set up during the installation period:

November 20–24, 2026

You do not need to select a delivery day or time when you register.

Registered entrants will receive delivery hours, access information and final setup instructions closer to the event.

Entries should arrive completely assembled and ready for exhibition unless advance arrangements have been made.

10. Exhibition

The Gingerbread House Exhibition will be located at:

Volta Space

Public entrance through Taste of West Africa

Downtown Fayetteville

Entries will be on public display during the contest period leading into and during A Dickens Holiday.

Following A Dickens Holiday, participating entries may remain on public exhibition for approximately one additional week.

Selected entries, including student creations, may be invited to appear in publicly visible Downtown Fayetteville storefront windows or another downtown exhibition location.

11. Judging

Entries will be judged with consideration given to:

• Overall appearance
• Creativity and originality
• Craftsmanship
• Use of gingerbread and edible materials
• Interpretation of the theme and storytelling

Judges will take the entrant's division and age/experience level into consideration.

Student entries will not be penalized for the permitted use of a commercial gingerbread kit.

Judging decisions are final.

12. People's Choice

Visitors will also have an opportunity to vote for a People's Choice Award.

People's Choice voting is separate from the judged division awards.

Public voting will close at:

7:00 PM — Friday, November 27, 2026

Contest winners will be announced at approximately:

8:00 PM — Friday, November 27, 2026

13. Awards & Prizes

Up to $1,000 in total prizes and awards may be presented across the contest.

Prize packages may include:

• Downtown Fayetteville experiences
• Gift certificates
• Gift baskets
• A Dickens Holiday merchandise
• T-shirts and festival keepsakes
• Donated and sponsored prizes

Awards may include division winners, People's Choice and special recognition awards.

Exact prize packages may vary by division and award.

14. Photography & Promotion

By entering, participants give Downtown Creative Works and A Dickens Holiday permission to photograph or record the gingerbread entry and use images or video of the creation for event promotion, social media, websites, publicity and archival purposes.

Entry into the contest does not automatically grant permission to photograph, publicly identify or use promotional images of individual students. Student photography and identification may be handled separately when appropriate.

15. Extended Display

Entrants will be asked whether their creation may remain on public display for approximately one week following A Dickens Holiday.

Some entries may remain at the primary exhibition location, while selected entries may be relocated to participating downtown storefront windows or another public exhibition space.

Entrants will be contacted before an entry is relocated.

16. Pickup

Entrants are responsible for picking up their creations during the designated pickup period unless other arrangements have been approved.

Pickup dates and instructions will be provided to registered entrants.

Entries remaining after the announced pickup deadline without prior arrangements may be discarded.

17. Final Entry Information

Closer to the event, registered entrants may be asked to provide:

• Final entry title
• Approximate finished dimensions
• Display-card information
• Delivery day/time preference
• Special handling or display information
• Confirmation regarding the extended exhibition

This information does not need to be known when the initial application is submitted.

18. Organizer Discretion

Downtown Creative Works reserves the right to make reasonable adjustments to categories, display arrangements, judging procedures or other contest details when necessary for safety or administration of the exhibition.

If you have an unusual idea or aren't sure whether something fits the rules, please ask before you build it. We want you to participate!