Get into the holiday spirit by participating in the 

Great Annapolis Gingerbread Houses Decorating Contest

1. All Gingerbread houses must be delivered to the Visitor Center at 26 West Street between 2:30 and  4:30pm on Friday, December 1.  

 

2. The public may vote during Visitor Center Hours on Saturday, December 2nd through Sunday, December 3rd.   

 

3.  All voting must be received by 3:30pm on Sunday, December 3rd. The winner will be announced at that time.

 

All finalists will be on display through Thursday, December 14th. All houses must be picked up by 5:00pm Saturday, December 16th.

 

Cash Prizes:  

1st Place:  $200        Fan Favorite:  $75

 

Gingerbread House Contest Rules:

• Any structure (house, church, school, barn, lighthouse, train, airplane or any other imaginative dwelling) may be entered.  

• The main structure can be constructed of either gingerbread or graham cracker.  Original creations are encouraged, but purchased kits are certainly acceptable!

• All components of the display, except the base, must be made of edible materials such as candy, nuts, cereal, cookies, crackers, pretzels, pasta, etc.  All wrappers and lollipop sticks should be removed.  

• Houses may not contain any food item that needs refrigeration.  

• All structures must be mounted on a hard, unbending base.  

• Each contestant must fill out an entry from for his / her house.   

• Size limit for base is 24” x 24”.  Entries need to be sturdy and should be able to be moved without consequence.  

• Do not write your name anywhere on your entry.  The staff will assign your gingerbread creation a number. 

• Use the Royal Icing Recipe or at least a similar one.  We cannot accept structures made with egg or butter icings as they can quickly turn rancid and also compromise the durability of the house. 

• Use the Royal Icing Recipe or at least a similar one. We cannot accept structures made with egg or

  butter icings as they can quickly turn rancid and also compromise the durability of the house.

  Entries will be judged on the following criteria: originality, creativity, attractiveness and decorative appeal, workmanship, stability and durability.

• Download a copy of the rules here:  Rules and Guidelines for Gingerbread Decorating Contest 

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