Everything At The National Gingerbread House Competition Is #GingerbreadGoals
Most people consider the day after Thanksgiving to be the unofficial start of the holiday season. The second Santa rolls through the streets of Manhattan, Christmas trees appear in living rooms and lights on porch rails. But in Asheville, NC, all bets are off before the turkey's even served. The Southern city is home to the National Gingerbread House Competition, and the weekend before Thanksgiving, contestants storm the Omni Grove Park Inn with their sugary creations.
"It brings the highest talent from everywhere: Canada, California, they come from all over," said Rita Adams. "This is the national competition." This being the 25th year, the hotel packed the house with more participants that ever before - 170, total - all there to vie for the silver anniversary title. The prize extends beyond just bragging rights: The overall winner goes home $5,000 richer and gets a free hotel stay. Second and third places clean up with more than a grand each, too, and even the teen, youth, and child categories take home some cash.
Friends Summer, 9, and Madisyn, 10, started building their gingerbread house months in advance. "Our entry is Christmas Over the Rainbow … because we like rainbows and Christmas," said Summer. It wasn't all for naught (they came in third), but the adult competitors have them beat. "We started planning in February of this year," said Jennifer Elmore, "and went into earnest production in August. All in, about 500 hours." It's evident: Her so-called kingdom was one of the most elaborate gingerbread creations at the event. Every section was inspired by something confectionery - lollipop gardens, a cupcake courtyard, a sugar grove forest.
Elmore found her way into the top 10, accompanied by returning champs. "I've gotten in the top 10 since 2007, when I started competing," Ann Bailey said. Her gingerbread creation - it was so much more than just a house - was an ode to Charles Dickens. "I wanted to do something with an enormous amount of detail that actually told a story." That was Glenda Tant's intention, too. Her Venetian palace served as a snack for a mouse during its construction, but you couldn't tell. "Everywhere you look, I like you to see something you didn't last time," she said.
Tant ended up coming in second - for the second year in a row - while Bailey took home the grand prize. "I was numb," she said of winning. "I was blown away. The best of the best in this field are here. I feel very honored." You can still see Bailey's house in person at the Omni Grove Park Inn. It's on display, along with all of the other entries, through January 4.
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