Join us at the Funhouse on Sunday, December 6th from 1-3pm for hot cocoa, cookies and holiday merriment! Feast your eyes upon gingerbread creations made by the Orcas community and vote for your favorite one.

Hello, and welcome to the 6th Annual Funhouse Gingerbread House Contest! 

Please join us on Sunday, December 6th from 1-3pm for our first ever Gingerbread House Contest Party!

To enter, you must complete and submit the form below - one form per entry - before November 23rd. 

Please read all rules and details before registering. 

WHAT IS IT?
An old-fashioned baking contest with four (4) age groups and three (3) awards per age group – for 12 awards total.  

CATEGORIES

Littles: Ages 6 and under

Kids: Ages 7-12

Teens: Ages 13-18

Adults: Ages 19-99+

The prizes in each category are: "Best in Show", "Creativity Award" (based on playful, unique and magical thinking), and “Architect’s Award" (observing complexity, construction detail, and precision).

PRIZE MONEY

Littles: Best in Show: $50; Creativity Award, and Architect’s Award: $20ea.

Kids: Best in Show: $100; Creativity Award, and Architect’s Award: $50ea.

Teens: Best in Show: $250; Creativity Award, and Architect’s Award: $100ea.

Adults/Open: Best in Show: $500; Creativity Award, and Architect’s Award: $150ea.

As well, the four (4) Best in Show winners will name any Orcas non-profit to receive an additional matching donation, equal to their prize!

THE RULES

Please read these carefully, as failure to observe may invalidate your project.

Individual & Group Registration 

  • There may only be one entry per individual, though multiple individuals from a single household are permitted to enter.

  • In the ADULT/OPEN category ONLY, entries may be created by an individual OR a team, w/unlimited team members of any age - friends, family, etc. (Please, no professional bakers – this is strictly for amateurs). However, IF using a team, you may not enter using an individual’s name; rather you must use a team name (e.g. “The Olga Bakers”, the “Hernandez Family”, “Team Santa”) with one, single contact person.

Elements 

  • Gingerbread “houses” may also be any other imaginative dwelling you can dream up (train stations, barns, birdhouses, lighthouses etc.).   Up to 1 single battery-powered element may be used, though certainly not required (lights, turning device, etc.).  No A/C electricity may be involved.

  • Inedible elements from nature - leaves, twigs, etc.- may be used for exterior details.

Edible Materials 

  • For only the LITTLES category, graham crackers and/or kits are acceptable.  All other entrants must use at least 50% homemade gingerbread for their entry’s basic structure and all work must be original - no kits please (except for 6 and under).  For all participants under 17, help is allowed with the baking and materials.  However, after this preliminary assist, all actual design and construction must be done strictly by the entrant personally, with no outside help, even the Littles.

  • ANY form of edible material - icing, candies, nuts, cookies, sugars, etc. - is allowed to build and decorate, but all elements (except for the base, any battery element and lollipop sticks) must be 100% edible. That is, no glue, Styrofoam, jewelry, ornaments, Fimo®, plastics or other non-edibles allowed.  

  • Fondant may be used but must not compose more than 40% of the structure's finish.

  • Materials that require refrigeration are NOT permitted.

  • The Funhouse will have some edible decorations available on a first come first serve basis if needed/wanted. Please reach out to Sarah Davis (sarahdavis@thefunhouse.org) with questions and to arrange pick-up.

Age Categories

  • You are allowed to enter any older category if you’d prefer (i.e. a 15-year-old can enter the Adult category), however, you are not allowed to enter your creation into more than one category nor, obviously, in any younger categories.

Submission Details  

  • Please submit your entries on a flat, sturdy surface (e.g. plywood, thick cardboard covered in foil, foam core, etc.) no larger than 18” x 18” – that is, no plates or pans please. 

  • Please attach a 3"x5" card with the entrant's name, telephone number and email address on the underside of the base. 

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

  • Once registered, entrants agree to deliver their creations to the Funhouse anytime between 11-12:30pm, on Sunday, December 6th. Stick around for our first ever Gingerbread House Contest Party from 1-3pm!

  • Winners will be announced @ our Gingerbread House Contest Party the same afternoon (Sunday, December 6th). If you cannot attend the party, you will be notified via email if your entry won. Please make a note to check for this notification on Monday morning.

  • The twelve (12) winning entries will then be transported by the Funhouse Team and displayed at Island Market from Monday, 12/7 - ?? for all of your island neighbors to see and appreciate during the holiday season.

  • Any winning participants who want to take their entries home will need to pick them up anytime by (date TBD by Island Market), during Island Market’s business hours*. Otherwise they will be given away or discarded. *Please see Island Market’s holiday hours for pick-up time.

  • If your entry does not win an award, you may take it home from the Funhouse after our Gingerbread House Contest Party. Any remaining entries will be given away or discarded.

FINE PRINT

  • To ensure objective fairness, all entries will be assigned a random number so judges won’t have any names associated while judging.  Also, no housemates nor family members of judges will be allowed to participate.  Also, note that if one entry happens to receive the top score in more than one category, the 2nd place entry will then be crowned the winner of the lesser category of the two. That is, no entry will win more than one award.

  • You agree that we can use your name and/or a likeness of your creation in our publicity and while we will make our very best efforts to handle, place and move all entries with care and caution, you agree to hold us harmless from any liability for any reason regarding any aspect of this competition and your creation.

  • We are not judging the taste of your entries, partly because we want to keep them intact. YOU, however, are welcome to eat them once you bring them back home!

TIPS

  • It is recommended to use Royal Icing only, as egg-based or buttercream frosting will turn rancid & disintegrate – and ideally allow each section to dry and harden before moving.  Remember, these don’t need to be ‘fresh’. (See recipe for Royal Icing below)

  • Also, best to bake your gingerbread pieces (and spares!) at least a couple of days in advance so it can do any shrinking before assembling.

SIGN ME UP!