Thank you to our generous sponsors, the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association and Coastal Virginia Magazine!
Contest is open to the general public, businesses, restaurants and bakeries, Hampton Roads Culinary Institutes, Hampton Roads College Culinary programs, and Virginia Beach High School Culinary programs.
Only 50 entrants will be accepted. Additional entrants will be added to a waiting list.
Entries must be registered no later than Monday, November 21, 2022.
Award categories are:
- Youth Entry (ages up to 12 years old)
- Adult (13 years and up)
- Businesses
- Schools
Awards are:
- Top People’s Choice Award
- Most Creative Building Materials
- Most Attention to Detail
- Most Whimsical
Winners will be contacted and announced the week of December 23, 2022.
Gingerbread houses will only be viewable in person at the Historic de Witt Cottage.
Museum visitors can cast their vote online at https://coastalvirginiamag.com/gingerbread/.
Voters must create and be signed into their account on the voting platform in order to vote (If you do not receive a verification email right away, check your spam and junk folders).
Voters may vote 1 time per category throughout the duration of the contest.
Voting will begin on December 1 and end on December 22, 2022.
Winners will be those receiving the most votes overall in their category.
Winners will be contacted and announced the week of December 23, 2022.
- The 2022 theme is Have Fun with the Holidays.
- Appointments for drop off will be scheduled beginning Monday, November 28 – Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Gingerbread houses will be on display and voting will begin December 1, 2022.
- Gingerbread houses kits are allowed, but all materials must be made entirely of edible materials, including what “glues” pieces together. Kits can be sourced at Michaels, Wal-Mart, Target or any retailer.
- Any decorations must be edible, unwrapped and preferably handmade.
- Entries cannot use electric power, candles, or heat-producing features.
- Houses must be freestanding and securely mounted on a base that is sturdy enough to facilitate carrying and moving of the entry. The base can be 12” x 12”, 14” x 14” or a maximum of 16” x 16” in any dimension. Entries (unless pre-approved) that exceed these dimensions will not be accepted due to space constraints.
- Because the exhibit continues for multiple weeks, staff will not provide repairs. Entrants will be notified if their structure needs repairs.
- If you need a location to construct your gingerbread house, arrangements may be made with the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum to reserve a space.
Appointments for pickup will begin Wednesday December 28, 2022. No entries may be removed prior to the 23rd. Any entry not picked up prior to January 4, 2023 will be disposed of.
Any entry may be used by The Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, Historic de Witt Cottage, Coastal Virginia Magazine/Vista Graphics and the Virginia Beach Restaurant Association for promotional publicity, photographic, or any other purpose without further notice.
For more information, contact thedewittcottage@gmail.com or visit the website at thedewittcottage.org.