Gingerbread House Contest Registration

We are excited to once again host the Animas Chocolate & Coffee Company’s Annual Gingerbread House Contest! Join us on Friday, December 11th, for the “Parade of Gingerbread Homes,” a community event where winners will be announced!

New this year: registration is FREE! 

This year’s categories are:

• Children (kids under 12)
  • House must be fully constructed solely by kids under the age of 12, without help from an adult
• Adult/Family
  • Adults are involved in the construction in any capacity

Please be sure to choose the correct category from the dropdown menu when registering!

Deadlines & Dates:

• All houses must be dropped off on Saturday, December 5th (any time during normal café hours)
  All entrants must be registered ahead of time
• Winners will be announced at The Parade of Gingerbread Homes on Friday, December 11th. Winners will be determined by “People’s Choice” public voting; voting for the winning entries will open December 5th and will conclude during the event.
• Houses will be on display Saturday, December 5th-Thursday, December 31st
• Houses must be picked up on January 2nd, 2027. Any entry remaining on Wednesday, January 6th, will be discarded.

Registration Information:

Registration must occur prior to drop off and entrant will be able to pick up their “official” gingerbread house base once they’ve registered.

One “People’s Choice” winner from each category will be chosen. Each winner will receive an ACC Gift basket plus an ACC gift card.

Registration is limited to the first 20 entries! 

Registration includes an 18”x18” board which your gingerbread house must be constructed on. Once registered, you can pick up your board at any time during normal business hours at our chocolate café.

Contest Rules & Procedures:

• Gingerbread structures may be houses, train stations, barns, or historic buildings. Entries must be constructed in 2026. Entries must be original; no gingerbread kits allowed.
• Structures must be constructed entirely of gingerbread. No lights or electronic devices allowed. All components of the display (decorations), except for the base, must be made of edible materials. Edible materials include candy, nuts, cereal, cookies, crackers, and other food items. Wrappers must be removed from candy – no sucker sticks, straws, etc.
• Entries must be constructed on the provided 18”x18” plywood base. No decorations should be placed on the sides of the base. Please tape a 3”x5” card with the entrant’s name, address, telephone number, and email address to the underside of the base.
• Entrants must register ahead of time and pick up their boards in-person at Animas Chocolate during our normal café hours.
• All entries must be picked up on January 2nd, 2027. Any entry remaining on January 6th will be discarded.
• House drop-off will occur on Saturday, December 5th, during normal café hours. All houses must be dropped off on this day, no exceptions.
• Winners will be determined by public voting; voting will be open December 5^th-December 11^th.
• Winners will be chosen based on total number of votes received. Winners will be announced on the evening of December 11th at The Parade of Gingerbread Homes
• Each winner will receive an ACC gift basket and an ACC gift certificate.