Gingerbread House Contest

Discover a sweeter side of A Hometown Christmas! Our Gingerbread House Contest invites children, families, adults, and community groups to turn gingerbread, icing, and candy into imaginative holiday creations.

Build a cozy Christmas cottage, recreate a favorite Oxford landmark, or bring a treasured family tradition to life. Whether you enter or simply come to admire the displays, there’s plenty of creativity and Christmas cheer to enjoy.

Guests can vote for their favorite entry for the People’s Choice Award from noon to 3 PM. Join us at 3:30 PM as we announce the results and celebrate the winners!

Contest Divisions:

1. Youth: The child must perform most of the design and construction. An adult may help with hot surfaces, cutting and transportation.
2. Teen: The teen must perform the design and construction. Adults may assist only with safety and transportation.
3. Family: Family members may work together. List every primary builder on the entry form.
4. Adult Amateur: Open to adults who do not earn income from baking, pastry work or professional cake or cookie decorating.
5. School Church or Nonprofit: Open to classes, clubs, ministries and nonprofit teams. Name one adult contact.
6. Business or Civic Organization: Open to businesses, government departments and civic organizations.
7. Professional Showcase: Professionals may participate for public display and People's Choice recognition but should not compete against amateurs for judged division awards.

Construction Rules:

Each entry must be built on one sturdy, flat base no larger than 18 inches by 18 inches. The base may be plywood, foam board or another rigid material and may extend no more than two inches beyond the decorated scene on each side.

The completed entry may not exceed 24 inches in height and must weigh no more than 25 pounds. Oversized or unsafe entries may be refused because tables and display space are limited.

The structure must be assembled before arrival. No construction space, refrigeration or repair table is guaranteed at check-in.
The main structure must be made primarily from gingerbread, graham crackers, cookies or another baked edible material. Cardboard, foam, wood or plastic may not be used as hidden structural walls or roofs.

All visible decoration above the base must be edible. Acceptable materials include icing, fondant, candy, cereal, pretzels, pasta, coconut, sugar, cookies, marshmallows and edible food coloring.
The base, internal lighting, wiring and a discreet support used only to attach the structure to the base may be non-edible. Non-edible supports may not replace the principal walls, roof or visible architectural features.

Battery-operated lights are permitted when the battery pack and wiring are safely concealed and accessible to staff. Plug-in lights, open flames, candles, dry ice, water features and heat-producing elements are prohibited.

Entries may use a commercially produced gingerbread kit only in the Youth, Teen or Family divisions. Kit use must be disclosed. Adult Amateur and organization entries must be substantially original construction.

No fresh dairy products, uncooked eggs, meat, fresh fruit, fresh greenery, live plants or other materials likely to spoil, leak, attract pests or create an odor are allowed.

No loose glitter, broken glass, sharp exposed wire, weapons, political campaign material, tobacco or alcohol branding, frightening imagery or content unsuitable for a family Christmas program is allowed.

The entry must be stable enough to be lifted by its base and displayed for the full event. Staff are not responsible for pieces that collapse during transport, judging or display.

The entry must be original for the 2026 contest and may not have been entered in another judged competition.

Theme and Content Requirements:
Entries should connect to at least one of the following: Oxford architecture or history; a traditional family Christmas memory; a classic Christmas home or village; the Hometown Christmas theme, or an imaginative holiday scene appropriate for all ages.
Oxford-inspired entries may interpret a landmark creatively; an exact architectural replica is not required.

Religious Christmas scenes are welcome when presented respectfully.

Participant names, business names and sponsor logos may appear only on the official entry card, not as advertising across the display.
The contest manager has final authority to decline or remove an entry that violates the rules, creates a safety concern or does not fit the family setting.