Light Up Blue Ridge is calling all gingerbread house builders to enter Blue Ridge’s 4th Annual Gingerbread House Contest.
Following judging, each house will be displayed in the Blue Ridge Gingerbread Village at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association’s Art Center.
“A trip to see the Light Up Blue Ridge Gingerbread Village is like walking into a mini fairyland,” Light Up Blue Ridge committee member Chris Martinez said. “It is truly a joy to see such creativity expressed in sugar and gingerbread! The STEM classes from the local schools use this opportunity to apply their math and science skills in planning and designing their little houses.”
For example, over 75 houses were submitted from East Fannin Elementary School last year.
Each submitted gingerbread house must be mounted on a sturdy base, which can be inedible, however the base must be completely concealed with edible product. Inedible products, such as ribbon, can be used on the sides of the base.
Each house cannot be larger than 18” x 18,” and no design elements should extend past the base.
The design structure is not limited to a “house,” however it must be a building of some kind. The basic structure can be made of gingerbread or graham crackers.
The entry must be original, however gingerbread kits can be used as your starting point. It must be delivered fully-completed, attached to its base with a completed info card. They should not include anything that requires refrigeration, because the entries will be sitting out for approximately a month.
This year, the contest will consist of six categories, including:
Professional, consisting of bakers, restaurants, culinary schools and caterers;
Business & Organization, consisting of any business or organization within the tri-state area;
Adult Individual, consisting of adults aged 18 years and older;
Youth Individual, consisting of those ages 13 through 17;
Kids, consisting of those aged 12 and under in a group or as an individual; and,
Fine Artist.
Entry forms for the contest must be submitted to Martinez at ccimii@etcmail.com no later than Friday, November 20, at 5 p.m. The houses must be dropped of at Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association’s Art Center by Wednesday, November 25. Arrangements will be made for teachers to drop off their houses before November 25 at an alternative site if needed.
Winners will be announced Friday, November 27, at noon, and the houses will be on display from November 27 through December 13.
“Plaques are presented to the winners of various categories before it is open to the public, but the most prestigious one, the ‘People’s Choice’ award, is presented at the end of the show after each visitor votes on their favorite,” Martinez said.
The exhibit is free to the public and is located in a classroom at the Blue Ridge Mountains Art Association.
“The public can also check out the artwork and shop at the Holiday Show and Tell while they are there,” Martinez said.
More details regarding entries and guidlines is available at www.lightupblueridge.info.