All ages and skill levels are invited to apply for the 2025 contest through Wednesday, September 24.
August 28, 2025 (DAYTON, Ohio) – A sweet sidequest of the Dayton Holiday Festival is set to return for 2025! A public vote and judging for the annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest will take place on Friday, November 28, ahead of the Dayton Holiday Festival Grande Illumination and Parade. Applications are open now as the Downtown Dayton Partnership (DDP) is looking for up to 20 confectionery contenders to be part of the 18th annual contest. Completed gingerbread designs will be showcased during the Dayton Holiday Festival kickoff event from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, November 28. During the event, the public will vote in person to decide who should be named Best Baker on the Block and win a cash prize.
Bakers and pastry designers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to share their detailed vision and plan for a gingerbread creation in an online application. Up to 20 participants will be selected to compete and debut their completed gingerbread masterpiece during the Dayton Holiday Festival kickoff event on Friday, November 28. The creator of the gingerbread design with the most votes at the end of the Dayton Holiday Festival Parade will earn the title of “Best House on the Block” and score a top prize of $400. The second-place vote-getter will receive a $200 prize. All selected applicants will receive a $200 stipend to help cover the cost of building materials.
Traditional gingerbread houses, building replicas, and even cardboard entries are all allowed in the competition. Regardless of design, all exposed surfaces should be covered with edible materials. More contest guidelines and criteria can be found on the official entry form, which is available to fill out online here. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24.
“The Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest attracts more and more fun creations every year, and it’s become a favorite piece of the Dayton Holiday Festival,” said Katie Meyer, president of the Downtown Dayton Partnership. “We’ve seen gingerbread transformed into castles, houses, and downtown landmarks. We look forward to seeing our community’s incredible creativity and innovation at work to create even more delicious masterpieces this holiday season.”
The Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest is part of the month-long Dayton Holiday Festival, presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Virginia W. Kettering Dayton Holiday Festival Fund. For more information on the contest and other activities taking place during the Dayton Holiday Festival, visit daytonholidayfestival.org.
For more information: Lynn Robertson, 937-224-1518 ext. 227 or robertson@downtowndayton.org
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