The Gingerbread House Competition is a festive, holiday-themed event open to the public and designed to celebrate creativity, community, and holiday spirit. Guests can explore entries across five competitive divisions, vote for their favorites, and see which gingerbread creations take home top prizes.
In addition to the competition, families and friends can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities, including a trip to the North Pole for a photo with Santa, holiday bingo games, cookie decorating, festive snacks, and more – all in a cheerful holiday setting at the Studer Community Institute building.

Anyone can make a house! You don’t have to be a professional to enter. There are five total divisions to compete in:
– Adults
– Culinary Class (middle or high school students)
– Elementary Class (K – 5)
– Kids
– Event Sponsor
Use the register button above to submit your application.

You should have received an email confirmation of your registration. Included in the email is a private link for additional information.
Didn’t receive the email? Let us know, we will be happy to resend to you! Contact the team at info@studeri.org

Yes!
– Travel to the “North Pole” on the 9th floor of the SCI building to visit Santa and have your picture taken with him
– Play Holiday Bingo
– Check out the cookie decorating station
– Snack on hot cocoa and snacks

Yes, you sure can! Here are your options:
$5 digital download
$10 4 x 6 printed and mailed to you
$15 5 x 7 printed and mailed to you
You will fill out an order form right before you visit with Santa – make sure we have all the information to get these memorable photos to you!

The People’s Choice category gives attendees a chance to help crown a winner while supporting a great cause. Attendees can purchase raffle-style tickets – just $1 each! – at the event and place them toward their favorite gingerbread house. The entry receiving the most votes named the People’s Choice winner!

Please feel free to send an email to the team at info@studeri.org – we will be happy to help!

Yes! The top three in each of the five divisions will win a cash prize, with an overall value totaling $6,000.
With special thanks and gratitude to Rishy & Mallory Studer for sponsoring this competition!

Adult Division
* 1^st Place- $1500
* 2^nd Place-$750
* 3^rd Place-$500

Culinary Class Division
* 1^st Place- $500
* 2^nd Place-$400
* 3^rd Place-$300

Elementary Class Division
* 1^st Place- $500
* 2^nd Place-$400
* 3^rd Place-$300

Kid’s Division
* 1^st Place- $350
* 2^nd Place-$250
* 3^rd Place-$150

Event Sponsor Division
= Bragging Rights =

People’s Choice
* 1 winner: $100

We have 5 total divisions competing:
Adult Division- $50 entry fee
Culinary Class Division (Middle or High School Students) – FREE
Elementary Class Division (K-5) – FREE
Kid’s Division- $20 entry fee
Event Sponsor Division- FREE with sponsorship

Adult Division
Must be an adult to compete. This category is highly competitive. Registration is $50.

Culinary Class Division (Middle and High School Students)
You must be a middle or high school student and enrolled in your school’s culinary program. All middle and high school culinary students get one FREE entry. All winning proceeds will be given to the teacher of the culinary class to distribute as they see fit. Each entry will need to include the school’s name, teacher’s name, grade, and name of the student entering. This category is moderately competitive.

Elementary Class Division (K-5)
You must be an elementary student in grades K-5. Students will get one FREE entry. All proceeds will be given to the teacher of the class to distribute as they see fit. You will need to include your school’s name, teacher’s name, grade and name of student entering. This category is beginner-level.

Kid’s Division
Must be school age to compete. This category is for beginners. Registration is $20.

Event Sponsor Division
To be eligible for this category, the participant, and/or company must be a paid SCI sponsor.

Gingerbread House Making Instructions
Size Limitations: Please read carefully and follow the rules!
Entries must be freestanding and attached to a sturdy wood base (one-half inch or three-quarters inch plywood recommended)
The house must fit in the taped off section on the display table (see picture below).
Your house needs to face forward.
Your base needs to sit flat on the table and NOT be elevated to prevent falling over.
Structures, including wooden base, should be a maximum of 16 inches tall (front to back) x 20 inches wide (side to side)
Please follow these measurements, there will be 3 houses per table, and we want to make sure there is room to accommodate all houses.


Materials and Construction
The main structure must be made of gingerbread. The use of gum paste, fondant, modeling chocolate, royal icing, Isomalt, cast sugar, gelatin and pressed sugar is acceptable. Do not use anything on the entry that needs refrigeration. The use of battery-powered electrics and non-edible materials is allowed.

Judging
This competition will consist of 5 judges from different backgrounds. The judges are independent and not influenced by any SFoC staff, affiliates, or sponsors.
All entries will be judged on the following criteria:
– Overall Appearance
– Creativity
– Precision and Neatness
– Consistency of Theme
Winners will be announced at 12:30pm.
ALL DECISIONS BY THE JUDGES ARE FINAL.

People’s Choice
The People’s Choice category gives attendees a chance to help crown a winner while supporting a great cause. Attendees can purchase raffle-style tickets – just $1 each! – at the event and place them toward their favorite gingerbread house. The entry receiving the most votes named the People’s Choice winner!

Housekeeping
– Houses are to be dropped off NO LATER than 10:00am on day of event, December 12^th.
– Participants must take their houses after the event, December 12^th, between 2:15-3:00. If not picked up by end of the day, they will be disposed.
– Entry identification form must be filled out prior to competition. You will be sent this form after you submit your registration to compete. Completed form must be turned in by Monday, December 7, 2026