California Christmas Events: Gingerbread House Contests  > next

Gingerbread is celebrated each year with National Gingerbread Day in June. The most popular time in which gingerbread is recognized, however, is winter during four or five weeks before Christmas. Ginger, itself, has been around for thousands of years and is recognized as offering healing properties ranging from  antiemetic, antinausea, antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal and even increasing blood flow to an area topically.  Pictured on this page are thumbnail images of gingerbread house displays seen in California primarily during the Christmas holidays. You can click on each house to see more information about it and the event it is affiliated with.

Its use in cooking spans centuries, but applied to cakes and cookies known as gingerbread, the earliest references seem to be around the 15th century. So distinguished did this sweet desert become, that there actually was a profession at one time and a person who specialized in just making gingerbread.  Nuremberg, Germany became the gingerbread capital of the world.

Like so many imports to the USA, we Americans have taken the old time gingerbread recipes and have sliced, diced and modified them to create thousands of spin-off dishes that are delicious. Cakes, desserts, cookies and other recipes have taken the key ingredients of gingerbread and turned them upside down with sauces and other accompaniments.

While much has changed, the gingerbread house design still captures the hearts of all ages. Adults who enter gingerbread design contests can feel like children as they stare down on a home that's entirely edible and filled with sugar treats. For kids it is second nature to touch, taste and make things out of a product that they can go ahead and eat. 

It is no surprise to know that gingerbread contests come in two flavors--adults, and kids. If you think the stakes are high on an adult competition, you'll be amazed to see the designs that are coming out of places such Coyote Point Museum in San Mateo, or Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana.  This is not your grandma's gingerbread, however. Zamboni ice machines, a hat shaped building, and countless creative designs have come from the minds of youth.  If you seek a great pastime or fund-raising activity, be sure to check out several gingerbread contest events in California that include the San Diego Gingerbread City competition, or Sonoma County's Gingerbread Winery Contest.

Annual Gingerbread Contests, Displays and Events:

Sonoma Valley Gingerbread Wineries Contest. Occurs every year from Dec. 1 - 31. Contest entries are displayed at participating wineries. Make you first stop Landmark Vineyards,

Half Moon Bay Ritz-Carlton Gingerbread Contest. All gingerbread house creations are displayed in early December. Auction bids are accepted for houses, after the pastry chefs from The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay leads a panel of judges in selecting the winners in each category. Criteria include structural design, creative use of materials, detailing, and overall design excellence.  Award winners are announced during the annual holiday tree lighting ceremony.

Lemoore - Gingerbread house contest with the houses on display is fairly new, having only been around a few years. Anyone can enter by bringing a gingerbread house creation to the information table located at the Downtown Plaza during the event. Judging is by "people's choice."  Contact the chamber at 924-6401 for more information.